February 7, 2014

IN SPORTS: Crestwood girls basketball team looks to win 3rd-straight region title B1

Clarendon Health addresses public on $14.5M loan A2 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

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N.C. teen killed in robbery

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Suspects at large in Summerton shooting death

BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com The suspects in a robbery-turnedshooting remain at large after an 18-year-old North Carolina man was killed early Thursday morning in a Summerton home invasion.

Johnte Shaheed Holliday, of Raeford, N.C., was shot twice in the chest by two black male suspects with black handguns in the 6000 block of Furse Road.

An officer arrived on scene to find Holliday bleeding on the kitchen floor from two gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Because of the severity of Holliday’s injuries, emergency workers were unable to airlift the victim to Clarendon Memorial Hospital, so he was rushed via ambulance instead. He later died at PHOTOS BY MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

SEE ROBBERY, PAGE A8

Claire Estep dances at The Freed School of Performing Arts on Wednesday. Estep was recently accepted to University of Alabama on an academic scholarship, and she will be auditioning for the dance program later this month. She was also nominated to be a cadet at West Point.

Student faces dilemma of reporting to West Point or dancing in Alabama

BY RAYTEVIA EVANS revans@theitem.com

ROB COTTINGHAM / THE SUMTER ITEM

Officers with Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office discuss the ongoing investigation in front of the Furse Road home in Summerton where 18-year-old Johnte Holliday was killed early Thursday morning.

In the coming months, Claire Estep will have to make a major decision between two great opportunities. For the past year, Estep has been applying to colleges, keeping up a high GPA at Wilson Hall and dancing, while enduring a rigorous admissions process for U.S. Military Academy West Point.

After receiving an invitation to apply for the academy in January 2013, Estep set out to make one of her dreams a possibility. Getting into West Point is not an easy feat. One of the major requirements is to receive a nomination from your congressional

‘It’s all in God’s control. Whatever it is, I know it’s going to be phenomenal.’

CLAIRE ESTEP Discussing her impending choice of West Point or University of Alabama

Estep holds up the acceptance letter she received from the University of Alabama Honors College president recently.

representative, U.S. senator or the U.S. vice president. Since Estep and her family didn’t have Vice President Joe Biden on speed dial, she applied to

get a nomination from Sen. Tim Scott, (R-S.C.).

“You have to have pull to get into West Point, but we have no pull or any kind of influence at West

Point,” said Claire’s dad, Scott Estep.

Scott Estep said the senator required five essays,

SEE ESTEP, PAGE A8

New group of Stinney supporters join fight for retrial

BY BRISTOW MARCHANT bmarchant@theitem.com The contest to win a new trial for executed teen George Stinney is becoming more crowded, as Stinney supporters are coming forward to add their voices to the deliberations.

Judge Carmen Mullen opened the door for outside organizations to file amicus, or “friend-of-the-court,” briefs adding new evidence or arguments to her consideration of a motion to overturn

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charged with the murder of two young girls found dead in a shallow ditch. The girls were white, and Stinney was black. In quick succession, Stinney was convicted in a two-hour trial and sent to the electric chair within two months. Seven decades later, a motion by Stinney’s family asking for his conviction to be overturned is now before the courts.

Attorney Joe McCulloch attended the Jan. 21 hearing on

Stinney’s 70-year-old murder conviction.

Now other supporters of civil-rights causes are stepping into the breach. An amicus is being prepared by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the civil-rights project of a Boston law school is also contributing a filing to the case.

Manning attorney Steve McKenzie, who is representing Stinney’s surviving relatives in their efforts to have his conviction set aside, ex-

pects those briefs to provide support to his contention that Stinney’s prosecution — and his family’s desire to clear his name — was tainted by the racially prejudiced atmosphere of the time.

“The solicitor asked why the family didn’t come forward before,” McKenzie said.

“They’ll focus on the same things we did, that this was a poor family in the Jim Crow South with an ingrained sense of institutional racism, who knew their son and brother had been killed at the

hands of the state.”

Dr. Lonnie Randolph Jr., president of the South Carolina NAACP, said the organization always takes an interest in any case where civilrights issues come into play.

“George E. RANDOLPH Stinney was treated in a way no citizen should be, or any 14-year-old should be,” Randolph said.

As a young boy growing up in Alcolu, Stinney was

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: pressrelease@theitem.com

Clarendon Health addresses public on its $14.5M loan

BY BRADEN BUNCH bbunch@theitem.com MANNING — With its financial situation becoming a growing concern within the local community, the board of trustees for Clarendon Health System conducted a public hearing Thursday night to discuss both the organization’s fiscal status and its plans for economic stability.

Richard Stokes, CEO of the hospital system, acknowledged to the crowd of about 50 people gathered in Clarendon Memorial Hospital’s cafeteria that the hospital portion of the health care provider has faced significant financial difficulties in recent years.

From 2008 to 2012, the hospital operated at a net loss of about $14.4 million, both draining the organization’s cash on hand and making it increasingly dependent on the profits coming from other op-

erations, most notably its three nursing homes.

And while the health-care system is projecting to have an overall small profit this fiscal year, Stokes said Clarendon Health is looking to make a wide array of changes in both how it operates and the culture around the hospital.

“We’ve had issues. We’ve identified them, and we’re moving forward,” Stokes said.

Some of the recent changes at Clarendon Memorial most notably included a decrease in staffing. “It was a shock that nobody wanted to do, but we had to do it,” Stokes said of the downsizing last year.

To help with the financial aspects during the turnaround attempt, the board recently gave approval for the hospital’s administration to pursue a $14.5 million loan from the United States Department of Agriculture. This

would be used not only to pay off a current revenue-based loan, on which the hospital currently owes more than $5.8 million, but would also allow the hospital to construct a more-than-$7 million medical office building.

Pursuit of the USDA loan stems specifically from the health-care system attempting to get out from under the 2011 loan which it said has too high an interest rate (6.75 percent), is for too short a time period (10 years) and is with a bank that is aggressively attempting to get out of the loan as well.

In order for hospitals to qualify for the USDA loan to pay off the current loan, however, the government agency requires a majority of the funding provided must be used for new projects.

Attempts to refinance its current loan with other banks failed because of its recent

Richard Stokes, CEO of Clarendon Health System, explains the current financial status of the healthcare provider and addresses why the board is opting to pursue a $14.5 million loan during a public hearing at Clarendon Memorial Hospital’s cafeteria Thursday night.

BRADEN BUNCH / THE SUMTER ITEM

fiscal woes, Stokes said, leaving the USDA offer as the best possible option. And while admitting this was not the most opportune time to construct the new facility, Stokes said it would provide the hospital a key asset in recruiting and retaining physicians.

If ultimately accepted, the USDA loan would be at a lower rate (4.5 percent) and can be spread over a much longer time period (from 30 to 40 years).

Stokes also tried to allay fears that the potential revenue-based loan could be passed on to the taxpayers,

pointing out it was structured differently than a general obligation bond, and responsibility for the loan fell solely on the health-care system.

This was the concern of many of the vocal members of the audience, who expressed worry about increasing the debt of a financially challenged institution.

To this, Stokes also called for patience as the health-care system tries to gain its financial footing. “A hospital doesn’t turn around in a month or a year,” he said.

Reach Braden Bunch at (803) 774-1201.

LOCAL BRIEFS FROM STAFF REPORTS

First-graders at Sumter Christian School check out “Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims.”

Each student in the private Sumter school got a hardcover copy of the book thanks to Barbara Painter, a school parent.

SLT auditions Monday for ‘The 39 Steps’ Sumter Little Theatre will hold auditions for the comedy/mystery “The 39 Steps” at 7 p.m. Monday at the theater, 14 Mood Ave., in the Sumter County Cultural Center.

Parts are available for four actors, three of whom will play multiple parts.

The play is adapted from the mystery novel by John Buchan and the film by Alfred Hitchcock.

The play will be performed May 15-18 and 2225. For more information, call SLT at (803) 775-2150.

League will discuss domestic violence help The League of Women Voters - Sumter County invites the public to its Monday meeting at 6 p.m., held at the Sumter County Administrative Building, 13 E. Canal St., in the county council chambers on the third floor.

The program topic is “Domestic Violence: What Community Support is Available?,” and a fivemember panel of victim assistance representatives will speak.

Speakers are Bernice Montgomery from Shaw Air Force Base, Mae McFadden with the Pee Dee Coalition, Amanda Wiley with the city of Sumter, Barbara Wiley with Sumter County and Yolanda Wilson from the YWCA. For information, contact Barbara Brown, LWV-Sumter County president, at (803) 968-0388.

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Parent wins 200 Limbaugh books Sumter Christian School students get copy of novel

AND THE WINNER IS ...

Barbara Painter’s winning entry: God is always first at our school. The teachers and staff get to know you, and it makes you feel like one big family. God is everywhere in their studies. They say the pledge every morning to the flag, Christian flag and Bible.

They also learn the American Creed and can recite it! I’m very proud of the patriotism shown by our school. I know they would love your book and are very deserving because of their love of God and Country. Thank you for this opportunity.

BY JADE REYNOLDS jade@theitem.com A local parent recently received passes to the past for every student in her children’s school, and it didn’t even require a purchase.

Barbara Painter, who has three children attending Sumter Christian School, won 200 hardback copies of Rush Limbaugh’s “Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims.” Limbaugh and his wife, Kathryn, have now donated more than 15,000 books to schools across the nation, according to twoifbytea.com.

The story has a substitute history teacher take a class clown back in time via a magical horse, Liberty, to show him history isn’t boring, she said.

“Liberty talks, and he’s very funny,” Painter said. “He can hold his breath and disappear or blend into his surroundings.”

The faithful listener heard about the contest and knew her school could be a winner. She fired off an email highlighting the school’s patriotic nature —

the private Sumter school’s colors are red, white and blue — and focus on God. When she found out she’d won, Painter was “over the moon,” she said.

“I’m still excited and humbled that our school was chosen,” Painter said.

“A lot of times, history books leave out Christian aspects of the story.”

The books arrived Monday.

“It’s nice when we get one for each classroom or a few copies for the library,” said Ron Davis, administrator of Sumter Christian School and pastor at Sumter Bible Church. “It’s very nice

when we get one for every student.

“We appreciate our parents’ involvement in fundraising, education and books. Parents can be creative about how they get involved. They can help us in ways we don’t even know. We didn’t ask her to do this. Hopefully this will encourage others, ‘Well, she did this. Maybe I can do this.’”

Neither Davis nor Painter were concerned about the radio personality’s penning rubbing parents the wrong way.

“If you listen to the media, you might have a bad opinion of him,” Painter said. “You have to listen for yourself and form your own opinion.”

Davis has had no complaints from parents, he said.

“He is very opinionated, but if you are interested in American history, I don’t think you would refuse to read it because it’s by Rush Limbaugh (and) you don’t agree with his political views,” Davis said. “It’s like that saying, ‘Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.’ A lot of the books in our library don’t necessarily have our stamp of approval, but we encourage you to read it for yourself objectively instead of with preconceived notions.”

Reach Jade Reynolds at (803) 774-1250.

HOW TO REACH US IS YOUR PAPER MISSING? ARE YOU GOING ON VACATION? 20 N. Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C. 29150 (803) 774-1200 Jack Osteen Editor and Publisher Jack@theitem.com (803) 774-1238 Braden Bunch Senior News Editor bbunch@theitem.com (803) 774-1201 Waverly Williams Sales Manager wwilliams@theitem.com (803) 774-1237

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LOCAL | STATE

THE SUMTER ITEM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

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A3

WARMING UP WITH A DANCE AT WILSON HALL SPECIALS

FEBRUARY 3RD

Wilson Hall sophomore Edward McMillan moves to the “Cupid Shuffle� at The Winter Chill. The Sumter private school’s 20th annual Winter Chill Semiformal was held at The O’Donnell House recently. The dance for students in grades nine through 12 was sponsored by the student council.

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Bill would merge College of Charleston, MUSC COLUMBIA (AP) — Charleston-area lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday to merge the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina.

The bill co-sponsored by 11 Republicans and Democrats would create a combined Charleston University on July 1, giving the state its third comprehensive research university.

In a joint statement, Republican Rep. Jim Merrill and Democratic Rep. Leon Stavrinakis said the merger is long overdue for the Lowcountry’s economy. “We are confident this merger does not adversely affect either institution and, ultimately, the merged value and prestige of Charleston University will be greater than the simple sum of its parts,� said the primary sponsors. “It is right for business.

It is right for higher education. It is right for the Lowcountry. It is right for South Carolina, and it is our obligation as legislators to deliver.�

The state has three research universities: the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and MUSC. But the latter offers only medical degrees.

MUSC’s mission is too limited to address businesses’ needs for advanced degrees and training for area workers.

A combined university that expands on what the College of Charleston and MUSC can offer separately is a solution, said Merrill, a University of South Carolina graduate. “There needs to be the same synergy that exists in the Midlands and Upstate,� he said, adding the Lowcountry is behind partly because of its historical reliance on military and tourism jobs.

The idea is backed by House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-

‘It is right for business. It is right for higher education. It is right for the Lowcountry. It is right for South Carolina, and it is our obligation as legislators to deliver.’ JOINT STATEMENT ON MERGER BILL Charleston, a co-sponsor.

An MUSC representative did not immediately respond.

College of Charleston

spokesman Mike Robertson said its board welcomes the opportunity to collaborate on how to meet the state’s high-

er-education needs. He noted that retiring College of Charleston President George Benson has said for 18 months he personally supports a merger and talked about the benefits of doing so in a House subcommittee earlier this week.

Gov. Nikki Haley said she hopes the universities’ boards come together and discuss what’s in the schools’ best interest, but she doesn’t support forcing a merger legislatively.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

Proposed law targets Rx drug trafficking COLUMBIA (AP) — Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell, taking aim at what he called “a criminal cancer that will affect the health of seniors,� proposed legislation Thursday making it a crime to possess prescription drugs illegally and imposing tough penalties for prescription drug trafficking in South Carolina. “An increasing number of the elderly’s medicine cabinets are being targeted in both private homes and licensed residential facilities,� McConnell, whose office operates the state’s Office on Aging, told a Statehouse news conference. “Prescription medications have become the drug of choice for many teenagers and young adults because drugs are legal, easy to obtain and convenient to carry on their person.�

McConnell said that South Carolina ranks 23rd per capita nationally in deaths from prescription drug overdoses and there were 225 such

THE SUMTER ITEM

Groundhog Shadow Day at Shaw

deaths in 2011.

He said a new law will provide clarity for law enforcement officials and add new penalties for prescription drug trafficking. “The laws regarding controlled substances in instances are so confusing, and they are so convoluted some prosecutors feel the crimes fall into a gray area of interpretation and thus are not prosecutable or are worth the time to prosecute,� McConnell said.

The bill, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Thomas Alexander, R-Walhalla, would impose penalties, not on the weight of the drugs seized, but on the number of pills. The measure calls for a minimum of 15 years in prison and a fine of $200,000 or more for anyone convicted of illegally having 600 or more prescription pills.

The law also would make having multiple prescriptions for the same drug evidence of that person’s intent to sell those drugs.

SGT. SHARMAIN BURCH / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM

Mackenzie Mundy, an 8th grader at Furman Middle School, walks down the steps of Patton Hall at Shaw Air Force Base with her dad, Capt. Shallum I. Harris, USARCENT G4 aide-de-camp, whom she shadowed as part of Sumter School District’s Groundhog Shadow Day on Feb. 4. Mackenzie was given the opportunity to see her dad’s daily routine.

Proposed legislation would ban abortions after 19 weeks in S.C. COLUMBIA (AP) — Abortion opponents hope a proposed law banning the procedure in South Carolina beyond the 19th week of pregnancy ends up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The legislation, co-sponsored by 34 Republicans, asserts that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks old. Doctors who disregard the ban could be charged with a felony.

Rep. Wendy Nanney, the main sponsor, said as a mother of five children, she wants to protect children from pain. “That’s what a mother does,� said Nanney, R-Greenville. Asked whether a mother should decide based on her situation, she added, “I think the child is the most important thing, and the fact it feels pain is very important to me.�

Doctors with the South Carolina chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said the bill’s supporters are looking only at studies that support their conclusion, while other reviews have found a fetus does not

feel pain before 24 weeks. The doctors point to lethal or serious fetal problems that often aren’t diagnosed, or at least can’t be confirmed, before 20 weeks. “Once the diagnosis is con-

firmed, many couples need additional time to make a well-informed and careful decision,� reads the joint statement signed by three doctors.

The proposed ban provides an exception only when the

mother’s life is in danger, and in such a case, the doctor must end the pregnancy in a way that gives the fetus the best chance for survival.

Asked why she made no exception for rape or incest vic-

tims, Nanney said those pregnancies are normally aborted before 20 weeks.

A House panel postponed a vote Thursday on the measure. It expects to resume discussion later this month.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

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A5

GI Joe turns 50 World’s 1st action figure celebrated SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — G.I. Joe is turning 50.

The birthday of what’s called the world’s first action figure is being celebrated this month by collectors and the toy maker that introduced it just before the nation plunged into the quagmire that would become the Vietnam War — a storm it seems to have weathered pretty well.

Since Hasbro brought it to the world’s attention at the annual toy fair in New York City in early 1964, G.I. Joe has undergone many changes, some the result of shifts in public sentiment for militarythemed toys, others dictated by the marketplace.

Still, whether it’s the original “movable fighting man� decked out in the uniforms of the four branches of the U.S. military or today’s scaleddown products, G.I. Joe remains a popular brand. “Joe stood for everything that was meant to be good: fighting evil, doing what’s right for people,� said Alan Hassenfeld, the 65-year-old former CEO for Pawtucket, R.I.-based Hasbro Inc., whose father, Merrill, oversaw G.I. Joe’s development in 1963.

But it’s Don Levine, then the company’s head of research and development, who is often referred to as the “fatherâ€? of G.I. Joe for shepherding the toy through design and development. Levine and his team came up with an 11½inch articulated figure with 21 moving parts, and since the company’s employees included many military veterans, it was decided to outfit the toy in

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

G.I. Joe action figures portray Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima in a display at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Jan. 31. A half-century after the 12-inch doll was introduced at a New York City toy fair, the iconic action figure is being celebrated by collectors with a display at the military museum, while the toy’s maker plans other anniversary events to be announced later this month. the uniforms of the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force, with such accessories as guns, helmets and vehicles.

Levine, who served in the Army in Korea, said he got the idea for the moveable figure as a way to honor veterans.

But he and his team knew the product wasn’t in Hasbro’s usual mold, and it took years of pitches before Merrill Hassenfeld gave it the company’s full backing. “Most boys in the ’60s had a father or a relative who was or had been in the military,� said Patricia Hogan, curator at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, home to the National Toy Hall of Fame. “Once you’ve bought Joe, you

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need to buy all the accessories and play sets and add-ons, which was great for business.�

G.I. Joe hit the shelves in time for the 1964 Christmas shopping season and soon became a big seller at $4 apiece.

It remained popular until the late 1960s, as opposition to Vietnam intensified and parents shied away from military-related toys. Hasbro countered in 1970 by introducing “Adventure Team�

G.I. Joes that played down the military connection. Into the ’70s, G.I. Joes featured “lifelike hair� and “kung-fu grip� and were outfitted with scuba gear to save the oceans and explorer’s clothing for discovering mummies.

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT GI JOE AS HE TURNS 50 YOU SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY: G.I. Joe was introduced in either February or March 1964, depending on whom you ask. Collectors and the manufacturer, Hasbro Inc., say it was February at the American International Toy Fair in New York. But fair organizers say it was held in March that year.

TOY AS TRIBUTE: Don Levine, Hasbro’s head of research and development, came up with the idea while returning home from combat as an Army infantry sergeant in the Korean War. “We protected each other and loved each other,�

Levine said this week. “Something had to be done to honor these people.�

40 YEARS TO FAME: G.I. Joe hit shelves in time for Christmas 1964, going on sale for $4 apiece in boxes identifying him as “America’s Moveable Fighting Man.�

It was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2004.

A DEATH AND REBIRTH: Sales sank in reaction to the Vietnam War, leading to a line of “Adventure Team� G.I. Joes that played down the military connection.

Production was halted in the 1970s. In the early 1980s, G.I. Joe was reintroduced as 3ž-inch figures.

PASSIONATE FAN BASE: It has an official G.I. Joe Collector’s Club, which holds an annual “GIJoeCon� convention. This year it’s in April in Dallas.

The Associated Press

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NATION

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

Mysterious noises came from rare ‘frost quakes’ ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chuck Herron heard the loud thud, then another and another. It sounded like someone was dropping big snowballs on the roof of his home.

The house is more than 100 years old and creaks, Herron said, but he had “never heard anything like that before.�

As his neighbors in tiny Paris, Mo., huddled around televisions Sunday for the Super Bowl, many were startled by similar strange noises.

Some even saw flashes of light and called 911.

Scientists say the community experienced a rare natural phenomenon known as a “frost quake,� which happens when moisture in the ground suddenly freezes and expands.

If conditions are just right, the soil or bedrock breaks like a brittle frozen pipe, generating mysterious noises that range from an earthquake-like rumble to sharp cracking sounds sometimes mistaken for falling trees.

This winter has been ripe for frost quakes, known technically as cryoseism. Temperatures have been frigid, but occasional warm-ups have allowed for thawing. And the temperature swings have sometimes been abrupt.

That was the case last weekend in Missouri, where temperatures in the 40s on Saturday gave way to single-digit readings by Sunday night.

In Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, Mo., 100 miles north of St. Louis, police and

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dennis Olsen measures a fissure on Jan. 11 which he said was about an inch wide and at least eight to 10 inches deep in his rural driveway after a frost quake in Waupun, Wis. Known technically as cryoseism, frost quakes are a rare natural phenomena. emergency dispatches received several calls within about two hours. Facebook feeds were filled with worries.

Some people compared the noise to a sonic boom that rattles windows, said Michael Hall, executive director of the 911 center that covers the Hannibal area. Others described it as sounding like “somebody banging on their house.�

Missouri isn’t alone. Frost quakes were reported last month in Canada and in several other states — Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin.

In DeKalb, Ill., Lisa Kammes and her family were getting ready for bed earlier this winter when the loud popping noises began. “The louder ones sounded

like somebody was throwing snowballs at the house,�

Kammes said.

Neighbors heard noises too, and several contacted police. “It wasn’t the regular noise you hear when your house is creaking, blowing in the wind or ice is breaking,� Kammes said.

The light flashes reported by some people are thought to come from electrical changes that occur when the freezing compresses rocks.

Robert Herrmann of the Saint Louis University Earthquake Center said frost quakes are far different from real earthquakes. Tremors typically occur a mile or two underground. Frost quakes are near the surface and do not show up on seismographs.

THE SUMTER ITEM

Utilities scramble to restore power after winter storm HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people spent a second chilly day without electricity last Thursday as utility crews from as far away as Canada and Arkansas scrambled to restore power lost when a heavy coating of ice took down trees and limbs in the mid-Atlantic.

State officials likened the scope of the damage to a hurricane. Some who might not get power back for several days sought warmth — or at least somewhere to recharge their batteries — in shopping malls, public libraries and hastily established shelters.

More than a half-million customers were without electricity last week, the vast majority of them in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said after an aerial survey of the storm’s aftermath that crews put a priority on restoring electricity to hospitals and nursing homes, and to communications facilities and sewer plants. “This storm is in some respects as bad or maybe even worse than Hurricane Sandy,� he said. He said a shipment of electrical generators from the federal government was on its way to Pennsylvania.

He said he was urging electric utilities “to move as fast as they can, but they have to do it within the parameters of safety.�

Peco, the dominant electricity provider in the Philadelphia area, had the most

outages with 423,000. Peco spokeswoman Debra Yemenijian said most would have their lights back on by tonight, but she said some could be without power until Sunday.

About 200 people took advantage of seven shelters in three suburban Philadelphia counties, according to the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Shelters also were open in central Pennsylvania.

The Northeast’s second winter storm of the week dumped more than a foot of snow in some places on Wednesday, forcing schools, businesses and government offices to close, snarling air travel and sending cars and trucks sliding on slippery roads and highways — an all-too-familiar litany of misery in a winter where the storms seem to be tripping over each other.

What made this one stand out was the thick coating of ice it left on trees and power lines. “Many of them already had a coating of snow on them,� said Mark Durbin, a spokesman for the utility FirstEnergy. “It’s that weight that crushes our equipment. Multiply that by hundreds of locations.�

In hard-hit York County, south of Harrisburg, the downed trees and lines kept emergency officials busy.

Calls to 911 on Wednesday were quadruple the normal volume, said Carl Lindquist, a spokesman for the county government.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

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Fears of slowdown sharpen focus on jobs report WASHINGTON (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Fears of an economic slowdown are heightening anticipation of what todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U.S. jobs report for January might reveal.

Stock markets have sunk after signs of weaker growth in the United States, Europe and China. Turmoil in developing countries has further spooked investors. The upheaval has renewed doubts about the Federal Reserveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next steps.

Evidence of healthy U.S. job growth would help soothe those jitters. It would suggest that the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest economy is still expanding solidly enough to support global growth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best antidote right now for all these problems is a robust U.S. economy,â&#x20AC;? said Carl Riccadonna, an economist at Deutsche Bank. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole world is watching, even more so than usual.â&#x20AC;?

Yet anyone looking to todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report for a clear picture of the U.S. economyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health might be disappointed. Unseasonably cold winter weather could distort Januaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hiring

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Austin Moore, 18, lines up on Jan. 22 with other job seekers during a career fair at a hotel in Dallas. The January jobs report is due out today. figures. Revised estimates of job growth last year and the size of the U.S. population

might further skew the data.

Another complication: A cutoff of extended unemploy-

ment benefits in December might have caused an artificial drop in Januaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unemployment rate and perhaps a misleading snapshot of the job marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just when we need it most, the employment report may fall short,â&#x20AC;? Riccadonna said.

All the anxiety marks a reversal from a few weeks ago, when most analysts were feeling hopeful about the global economy. U.S. growth came in at a sturdy 3.7 percent annual pace in the second half of last year. The Dow Jones industrial average finished 2013 at a record high. Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy was slowly emerging from a long recession. Japan was finally perking up after two decades of stagnation.

Yet in just the past few weeks has come a barrage of dispiriting economic news.

U.S. hiring slowed sharply in December. Employers added just 74,000 jobs, barely a third of the average gain in the previous four months.

On Monday, an industry survey found that manufacturing grew much more slowly in January than in Decem-

ber. A measure of new orders in the report plummeted to the lowest level in a year.

That report contributed to a dizzying 326-point plunge in the Dow Jones industrial average.

Also Monday, automakers said sales slipped 3 percent in January. And last week, the government said orders to U.S. factories fell in December.

So did signed contracts to buy homes, according to the National Association of Realtors.

A gauge of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing fell to a six-month low in January. And a report Wednesday said retail sales in the 18 European countries that use the euro fell in December by the most in 2½ years.

For all that, most economists remain relatively optimistic about U.S. growth.

They attribute the recent weakness in the United States in part to unseasonably cold weather, which disrupted trucking and shipping. The weather might have lowered hiring in December by up to 50,000 jobs, according to several economistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; estimates.

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LOCAL

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

MATT WALSH / THE SUMTER ITEM

Estep stretches with her fellow dancers during warm-ups at The Freed School of Performing Arts on Wednesday. Dancing has long been a passion of Estep, but the recently given opportunity to attend West Point isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an offer she can overlook too easily.

ESTEP FROM PAGE A1 among other requirements, just to apply for his nomination. After knocking out the essays, Claire faced Scott and a room full of military men during an interview. With a 3.8 GPA and track and dance for extracurricular activities, she looked pretty well-rounded in her application. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look pretty good on paper, not the best, but I knew that sitting there talking with them I would be fine and I would leave a good impression with my personality,â&#x20AC;? she

said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So there I was, just a girl sitting there with about eight military men during this interview. It was kind of overwhelming, but I felt like it went well.â&#x20AC;?

And she was right. Claire received the nomination for West Point from Scott and about the same time found out that she had received an academic scholarship to University of Alabama, a school with a reputable dance program.

Dance has been Claireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for the past eight years. She practices and participates in productions in the Sumter area with Freed School of Performing Arts.

ROBBERY FROM PAGE A1 the hospital from his injuries.

The victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncle, 29-yearold Terrance Holliday, described the suspects as two black males wearing camouflage jackets, one between 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches and the other 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet. The suspectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; locations are currently unknown.

The victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncle was unable to determine which direction the suspects fled and if a vehicle was involved.

The uncle told officers he was sleeping in another room when Holliday let the suspects into the house through the front door. His nephew reportedly thought the two men were friends of his uncle, who said he recognized

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one of the suspects but couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember his name.

The suspects then drew their handguns, told both vic-

She is involved in everything from tap to ballet â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but not hip hop because â&#x20AC;&#x153;my booty doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t move that way.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here since we were kids, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to meet new people, experience new things,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So the options Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m considering are in other states to get the chance for a different experience.â&#x20AC;?

West Point presents Claire with the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of both of her grandfathers, who were military men. The opportunity to experience college life, attending football games and becoming a part of Greek life, is just as tempting, she said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;After she visited West Point in May, we talked to Claire and asked her if West Point is really what she wants,â&#x20AC;? Scott Estep said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;College life is what everyone looks forward to, and we wanted to make sure she gets the experience she really wants. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s self-motivated, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud of her, so weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not worried about that. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Claire has always done well. And I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m her dad and I may be biased, but if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t toot her horn, who will?

We have to build our kids up because the world and life will try to tear them down.â&#x20AC;?

Claire said her parents

want the best for their only child and havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pushed her in any particular direction.

After her audition for the dance program at Alabama on Feb. 21, she said sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in a better place to make a decision on her next step in what will be a promising future.

Her support system from friends, family and educators, her resilience and her faith will surely lead her in the right direction. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatever it is, I know itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be phenomenal.â&#x20AC;?

tims to lay on the ground and demanded money. The uncle reportedly told the men that he had no money, but offered a shotgun as a substitute. One of the suspects reportedly then hit him with what he thought

was a gun just before he heard four gunshots. The suspects then took the shotgun and fled from the residence. An officer at the scene observed two shell casings in the kitchen area while entering the home.

Hollidayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncle told investigators that the victim was expecting to soon be a father to a baby boy.

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COMMENTARY

The health care myths we live by

W

Oregon allocated by lotASHINGTON tery scarce Medicaid slots — Swedish refor the uninsured. Comparsearchers reing those who got Medicaid port that antito those who didn’t yielded oxidants make cancers the following stunning reworse in mice. It’s already sult, published in the New known that the antioxidant England Journal of Medibeta-carotene exacerbates cine: “Medicaid coverage lung cancers in humans. generated no significant Not exactly what you’d eximprovements in measured pect given the extravagant physical health outcomes in — and incessant — claims the first two years.” you hear made about the To be sure, the Medicaid miraculous effects of antigroup was more psychologioxidants. cally and financially seIn fact, they are either cure. Which is not unimuseless or harmful, conportant (though for a $425 clude the editors of the billion program, you prestigious Annals might expect more of Internal Medibang for the buck). cine: “Beta-carotene, Nevertheless, once vitamin E and possiagain, quite reasonbly high doses of viable expectations tamin A suppleare overturned by ments are harmful.” evidence.

Moreover, “other Electronic records antioxidants, folic will save zillions. acid and B vitamins, Charles That’s why the and multivitamin KRAUTHAMMER federal government and mineral suppleis forcing doctors to ments are ineffecconvert to electronic health tive for preventing mortalirecords, threatening penalty or morbidity due to major chronic diseases.” So ties for those who don’t by the end of 2014. All in the useless are the supplename of digital efficiency, ments, write the editors, that we should stop wasting of course. Yet one of the earliest effects of the EHR time even studying them: mandate is to create a “Further large prevention whole new category of pretrials are no longer justiviously unnecessary health fied.” workers. Scribes, as they Such revisionism is a constant in medicine. When are called, now trail the doctor, room to room, enI was a child, tonsillectotering data. mies were routine. We now Why? Because the EHR know that, except for cerare so absurdly complex, tain indications, this is detailed, tiresome and grossly unnecessary surwasteful that if the doctor gery. Not quite as harmful is to fill them out, he can as that once-venerable stabarely talk to and examine ple, bloodletting (which the patient, let alone make probably killed George eye contact — which is why Washington), but equally you go to the doctor in the mindless. first place.

After “first, do no harm,” Doctors rave about the medicine’s second great scribes, reports The New motto should be “above all, York Times, because otherhumility.” Even the triedwise they have to stay up and-true may not be true.

Take the average adult tem- nights endlessly checking off boxes. Like clerks. Experature. Everyone knows it’s 98.6 F. Except that when cept that these are physicians whose skills are being some enterprising reridiculously wasted. searchers actually did the This is not to say that measurements — rather medical practice should than rely on the original 19th-century German study stand still. It is to say that we should be a bit more cir— they found that it’s actucumspect about having cenally 98.2.

But if that’s how dicey bi- tral planners and their assumptions revolutionize by ological “facts” can be, fiat the delicate ecosystem imagine how much more of American health care. problematic are the handIn the case of EHR, for ed-down verities about the workings of our staggering- example, doctors were voluntarily but gradually ly complex health care sysgoing digital anyway, learntem. Take three recent ing through trial and error cases: what best saves time and Emergency room usage. money. Instead, WashingIt’s long been assumed that insuring the uninsured ton threw $19 billion (2009 “stimulus” money) and a would save huge amounts rigid mandate at the probof money because they wouldn’t have to keep using lem — and created a the emergency room, which sprawling mess.

This is not to indict, but is very expensive. Indeed, simply to advocate for cauthat was one of the prime tion grounded in humility. financial rationales underIt’s not surprising that lying both Romneycare and myths about the workings Obamacare. of the fabulously complex Well, in a randomized U.S. health care system constudy, Oregon recently tinue to tantalize — and found that when the uninconfound — policymakers. sured were put on MedicAfter all, Americans so beaid, they increased their ER lieve in their vitamins/supusage by 40 percent. plements that they swallow Perhaps they still preferred the immediacy of the $28 billion worth every year.

ER to waiting for an office appointment with a physiCharles Krauthammer’s cian. Whatever the reason, email address is letters@ this finding contradicted a charleskrauthammer.com. widely shared assumption about health care behavior. © 2014, The Washington Medicaid’s effect on Post Writers Group health.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Repairs should be priority for spending tax dollars Each and every day I read letters to the editor concerning political opinions (who know everything) but seem to know nothing about the annoyances that cause heartburn with Sumter County residents. I have read about sport complexes, dog parks and other ways to spend our tax dollars. If the high-paid elected county officials would drive to the recycling center located on Cane Savannah Road after a big rain, there would be no doubt as to where to spend money.

Every county official should be ashamed of the current conditions that exist.

There must be hundreds of water-filled pot holes. That is one reason people throw trash on our roadways; they do not want to walk in waterfilled pot holes to dump their trash. It doesn’t take a person with an engineering degree to determine that the surface requires repair. Note: The employees who work at the recycling centers deserve better working conditions than which currently exists, and taxpayers deserve better recycling centers if they are expected to pay for them.

DON BALLARD Sumter

Third parties could be the answer to saving the U.S. In response to Gene Bradley’s letter dated Feb. 5, just because the Democrats are the wrong choice doesn’t

mean the Republicans are the right one. The enemy of my enemy is not my friend.

The Republicans are not our saviors. Both parties enjoy a duopoly and scratch one another’s backs. Speaker Boehner is a fine example of this. They both lack the political courage to take this country off the path to our impending fiscal cliff. The only Republican I trust to have his eye on the ball is Mick Mulvaney. Please consider a third party when you vote though. Blind allegiance will get us nowhere.

WES JOHNSTON Dalzell

‘Bashers’ need to remove planks from their eyes So the award-winning “Obama-basher” club is still at it taking turns writing the same letter to the editor over and over again. Their fiveyear obsession is amusing, and it reminds me of something my mother has said since I was a kid from Matthew 7:3-4: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

We get it: You do not like/ hate President Obama and most Democrats no matter what happens. In fact, it is apparent to me that you would even like to see our great country fail just to vindicate your total abhorrence for him/us. I can only come to that summation because while you all are obsessed with perceived scan-

dals instigated and grossly exaggerated by shock jocks (making $$$ off of your obsession) you say nothing about REAL scandals taking place in the Republican-infested Statehouse right here at home.

Our last and current governors were CHARGED with ethics violations and paid fines. Our current lieutenant governor replaced Ken Ard who resigned for all kinds of ethics violations, and what about the lieutenant governor before that (Bauer)? Or former treasurer Ravenel, our current comptroller general’s affair, and of course the current investigation of Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell, just to name a few.

Where’s the outrage? (Crickets…..)

The Republican Party has large majorities in the S.C. House and Senate, they occupy the governor’s mansion, and every statewide office is held by a Republican and it has been so for 15 years. The results: Bottom 5 of most meaningful categories (health, upward mobility, roads, bridges, crime, etc…) and top 5 of the bad ones (domestic violence, STDs, women killed by men, unemployment, poverty, etc…)

So please — if you want your award-winning basher club to earn credibility, have the planks surgically removed from your own eyes before you go blindly swiping the dust of others.

ALLEN BAILEY Chairman Sumter County Democrats

EDITORIAL ROUNDUP Recent editorials from South Carolina newspapers:

FEB. 2 GOVERNMENT GUIDE FOR NOT BEING DUMMIES You live in South Carolina, but what do you know about the state?

Perhaps you remember some of your early history classes and know South Carolina became the eighth state in 1788. You know the state flag sports a Palmetto tree and crescent moon that look great on tumblers, auto stickers, key chains and the like.

And maybe you even know why those make up the flag.

Those bits of information and knowledge are great to have, but how familiar are you with your home state’s governmental structure? We should at least have a fairly solid understanding of the government’s structure. We should be familiar with how it operates. In short, know who can do what and who does what. If nothing else, you come away knowing who to thank or who to blame, right?

The point of all this is to

say the good folks at the Jim Self Center on the Future at the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs at Clemson University recently produced a guide to the state’s legislative process. It’s clear, concise and designed for you, the residents of South Carolina.

You can download a copy at sti.clemson.edu/centers-mainmenu-26/jim-self-center-mainmenu-144.

Online: Index-Journal, Greenwood, http://www.indexjournal.com

WE NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT TEACHING READING Research shows again and again that a child’s ability to read is paramount to future success. Without mastery of this fundamental building block of learning, students are typically doomed to struggle in not only English/ language arts courses, but all courses including math and science. And these same students are among those most likely to drop out of high school. ... So how do we start down the path of putting reading first? The S.C. Legislature will consider a requirement this session that all S.C.

school districts and the state Department of Education operate summer reading camps for third-graders who are not reading at grade level. Many of the details have yet to be worked out. The budget recommendation won’t get its first House subcommittee hearing until this week, meaning the current version will likely be very different from the final version.

While we applaud state lawmakers’ attention and effort on this front, the lack of state funding may doom this valiant endeavor and serve as a roadblock for future statewide initiatives to help students read. Lack of money may mean too few teachers or teachers not properly trained.

To make it work, the General Assembly must direct more state dollars to, at the very least, its cash-poor districts with large percentages of students not reading on grade level.

It’s exciting that the General Assembly is talking about reading as the key to improving our state. Let’s hope these representatives don’t fumble on the details.

Online: Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, http://www. islandpacket.com

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your letter to letters@theitem.com, drop it of at The Item oice, 20 N. Magnolia St., or mail it to The Item, P.O. Box 1677, Sumter, SC 29151, along with the writer’s full name, address and telephone number (for veriication purposes only). Letters that exceed 350 words will be cut accordingly in the print edition, but available in their entirety at www.theitem.com/opinion/letters_to_editor.

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DAILY PLANNER

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

STINNEY FROM PAGE A1 the motion at the Sumter County Judicial Center on behalf of the NAACP and was asked to compile an amicus brief once Mullen invited submissions from outside parties.

“This case has been a matter of interest for the NAACP for years,” McCulloch said, noting the organization pushed for clemency for McCULLOCH Stinney from the governor after his 1944 conviction.

“There were several questions about the proceeding, none of which would be permitted today.”

Randolph said the state NAACP began studying the case about 10 years ago as part of a review of FBI files on cases from the civil-rights era that the organization might be able to help bring to a close.

“This isn’t something that just popped up,” he said.

Separately, a law professor with the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice

Project at Northeastern University is also compiling an amicus for the case.

The project of the Boston university’s law school works on historic civilrights cases that involved wrongful convictions and acts of violence, including state executions.

“We focus on how these events were addressed in the 20th century, to engage with students and explore legal remedies today,” said Margaret BURNHAM Burnham, who is writing the amicus, in a phone conversation from her Boston office.

While she wouldn’t get into details of what she expects to file, Burnham did say, “I thought we had something to add that could help the participants.”

Lawyers interested in the case have until Feb. 21 to file amici with the judge.

WEATHER AccuWeather® five-day forecast for Sumter TODAY

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Partly sunny

Overcast with rain arriving late

Rain

Partly sunny and warmer

Mostly sunny and cooler

Mostly cloudy

54°

36°

54° / 38°

66° / 37°

54° / 33°

52° / 38°

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 75%

Chance of rain: 10%

Chance of rain: 5%

Chance of rain: 25%

Winds: NE 3-6 mph

Winds: E 3-6 mph

Winds: NE 4-8 mph

Winds: WSW 8-16 mph

Winds: ENE 4-8 mph

Winds: ENE 7-14 mph

TODAY’S SOUTH CAROLINA WEATHER

Greenville 54/35

Sumter 54/36

Myrtle Beach 54/42

Manning 54/38 Aiken 57/36

ON THE COAST

Charleston 56/45

Today: Partly sunny. High 52 to 56.

Saturday: Rain. High 54 to 60.

LOCAL ALMANAC

LAKE LEVELS

SUMTER THROUGH 4 P.M. YESTERDAY

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The children of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, from left, Martin Luther King III, Dexter King, the late Yolanda King and Bernice King stand next to a new crypt dedicated to their parents in Atlanta in November 2006.

Martin Luther King’s children battling over Nobel Prize, Bible this week, Bernice said their father “MUST be turning in his grave” over the idea. She said that while she loves her brothers dearly, she was “appalled and utterly ashamed” of the plan, and added: “It reveals a desperation beyond comprehension.”

Then on Thursday, at a news conference from the pulpit of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where her father and grandfather preached, she portrayed herself as the true protector of King’s legacy.

City Atlanta Chicago Dallas Detroit Houston Los Angeles New Orleans New York Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix San Francisco Wash., DC

Today Hi/Lo/W 53/40/pc 14/7/pc 36/27/i 16/4/pc 43/35/c 64/53/pc 52/43/pc 30/19/pc 70/62/c 34/21/pc 66/48/s 56/52/r 41/28/pc

with friendship.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your timing must be impeccable. Waffling will hinder your position. Signs of indecisiveness will turn you into a liability instead of an asset. Negotiate your position.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make plans to socialize. Romance, creative endeavors and visiting unfamiliar places will motivate you to get involved in new and exciting ventures that can help to improve your personal and financial life.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Listen, but don’t take anyone’s word.

Gather all the information you can and dig deep until you get the facts.

A mistake will be difficult to correct, and therefore, any move you make must be based on truth and reason.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Show everyone what you can do. Take on a challenge or learn a new skill. The information you gather and the people you meet along the way will contribute to your success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Consider doing things a little differently. Taking what you know works and giving it an unusual twist will attract attention, allowing you to drum up interest in something you want to pursue.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t rely on others. Being responsible for your actions will show your leadership ability and help you gain the confidence of others. A joint venture can improve your current financial situation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do what’s expected of you. Once you’ve dealt with your obligations, you will be free and clear to do your own thing and make changes that are conducive to your success, not someone else’s.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t give in to emotional blackmail. Size up your situation and make a judgment call based on facts and realistic ideas and plans. A change in a relationship will occur if you mix money matters

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your sweet and congenial way of dealing with people will result in love and romance. You can make a promise or commitment that will help open up greater domestic opportunities.

Full pool 360 76.8 75.5 100

Lake Murray Marion Moultrie Wateree

47° 37° 57° 34° 79° in 2008 14° in 1996

SUN AND MOON 7 a.m. yest.

356.40 74.36 74.02 95.53

24-hr chg +0.23 -0.19 +0.20 -0.13

Sunrise 7:14 a.m.

Moonrise 12:12 p.m.

RIVER STAGES River Black River Congaree River Lynches River Saluda River Up. Santee River Wateree River

trace 0.35" 0.72" 3.09" 1.21" 4.66"

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 57/42/pc 23/12/sn 59/33/s 20/12/sn 63/45/pc 66/53/pc 64/51/pc 30/25/sn 74/60/sh 32/27/sn 70/51/pc 59/51/r 38/34/sn

Flood 7 a.m. stage yest.

12 7.76 19 4.40 14 6.04 14 5.20 80 77.01 24 9.40

Sunset Moonset

5:58 p.m.

1:27 a.m.

Full

Last

New

First

Feb. 14

Feb. 22

Mar. 1

Mar. 8

TIDES

24-hr chg +0.07 +0.24 +0.01 -0.23 +0.04 +3.07

AT MYRTLE BEACH

Today Sat.

High 2:52 a.m.

3:18 p.m.

3:51 a.m.

4:16 p.m.

Ht. 2.8 2.5 2.8 2.4

Low 9:56 a.m.

10:04 p.m.

10:57 a.m.

11:01 p.m.

Ht. 0.4 0.1 0.5 0.2

REGIONAL CITIES City Asheville Athens Augusta Beaufort Cape Hatteras Charleston Charlotte Clemson Columbia Darlington Elizabeth City Elizabethtown Fayetteville

Today Hi/Lo/W 48/29/c 53/35/pc 56/37/pc 56/45/pc 46/38/pc 56/45/pc 54/35/pc 55/36/pc 56/37/pc 55/36/pc 45/31/pc 54/36/pc 54/35/pc

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 49/30/c 57/38/pc 60/39/r 59/44/r 47/45/r 60/43/r 50/36/sh 54/38/c 55/37/r 51/37/r 39/38/r 50/39/r 47/38/r

Today City Hi/Lo/W Florence 54/37/pc Gainesville 60/54/sh Gastonia 55/35/pc Goldsboro 50/33/pc Goose Creek 56/44/pc Greensboro 50/33/pc Greenville 54/35/pc Hickory 50/31/c Hilton Head 56/48/pc Jacksonville, FL 60/53/sh La Grange 54/35/pc Macon 56/39/pc Marietta 53/34/pc

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 56/38/r 64/50/r 52/35/c 43/38/r 60/43/r 42/36/i 53/38/c 48/34/i 55/45/r 61/46/r 59/35/pc 61/40/sh 57/38/pc

Today City Hi/Lo/W Marion 50/33/c Mt. Pleasant 56/45/pc Myrtle Beach 54/42/pc Orangeburg 54/39/pc Port Royal 56/46/pc Raleigh 50/31/pc Rock Hill 54/33/pc Rockingham 54/33/pc Savannah 58/47/pc Spartanburg 55/35/pc Summerville 56/47/pc Wilmington 52/37/pc Winston-Salem 51/33/c

Sat. Hi/Lo/W 48/36/c 60/43/r 54/43/r 54/40/r 58/44/r 40/31/i 52/35/sh 49/36/r 61/43/r 53/38/c 56/43/r 48/41/r 41/37/i

Weather(W): s–sunny, pc–partly cloudy, c–cloudy, sh–showers, t–thunderstorms, r–rain, sf–snow flurries, sn–snow, i–ice

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LOTTERY NUMBERS PALMETTO CASH 5 THURSDAY

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Doublecheck any information you receive.

Problems dealing with interpretation are apparent. Offer help, but don’t overcommit to something that will end up becoming a burden. Apply for a better position.

Columbia 56/37

Today: Partly sunny and warmer. Winds light and variable.

Saturday: A passing morning shower.

Winds southwest 3-6 mph.

NATIONAL CITIES

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do your own thing. You’ll get the response you’re looking for if you are innovative, charming and passionate about what you do or have to say.

Make self-improvements.

Florence 54/37

Bishopville 55/36

IN THE MOUNTAINS

Precipitation 24 hrs ending 4 p.m. yest.

Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Hard work will EUGENIA LAST pay off.

Consider making professional changes or even starting your own business. Your options and opportunities are growing.

Gaffney 54/35 Spartanburg 55/35

Temperatures shown on map are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Temperature High Low Normal high Normal low Record high Record low

The last word in astrology

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2014

Reach Bristow Marchant at (803) 774-1272.

REGION

ATLANTA (AP) — A generation after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, his children are fighting among themselves again, this time over two of their father’s most cherished possessions: his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize medal and the Bible he carried.

The civil rights leader’s daughter Bernice King has both items, and her brothers, Dexter King and Martin Luther King III, asked a judge last week to order her to turn them over. She said her brothers want to sell them.

In a blistering statement

THE SUMTER ITEM

25-29-30-32-33 PowerUp: 2

POWERBALL WEDNESDAY 8-17-32-57-59 Powerball: 24 Powerplay: 3

PICK 3 THURSDAY

PICK 4 THURSDAY

3-1-0 and 3-7-6

5-1-2-2 and 8-7-0-4

MEGAMILLIONS TUESDAY 25-44-49-60-73 Megaball: 9 Megaplier: 3

SPCA PET OF THE WEEK Scooby Doo, a 4-year-old neutered white and tan Chihuahua/Italian greyhound mix, is available for adoption at the Sumter SPCA. He is housebroken, gentle, affectionate, active, protective and friendly. Scooby is shy at first but will quickly become your best buddy. He is great with other dogs and loves to play. The Sumter SPCA is located at 1140 S. Guignard Drive, (803) 7739292, and is open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday.

Visit the website at www.sumterscspca.com.

Enjoy an evening of dancing and music at the SPCA Valentine’s Dance 7-11 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Elaine D. Korn Memorial Center, 1100 S. Guignard Drive (next to the SPCA). Music will be provided

by The Footnotes. Cost is $20 per person (must be 21 or older). Call (803) 773-9292.

All proceeds benefit the Sumter SPCA.

COSTLESS

SECTION

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1340-B Wilson Hall RD OVERSTOCKS r HUGE DISCOUNTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014 Call: (803) 774-1241 | E-mail: sports@theitem.com

Furniture, Clothing, Electronics, Tools, Designer Purses, % Appliances, Flooring, 0 -5 0 2 Grills, Groceries off 803-869-4030 TUES. - SAT. 10AM - 6PM (BESIDE SCOTT WILL COLLISION CENTER)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

PREP BASKETBALL

D-Backs kick off ‘14 spring training slate

BY BOB BAUM The Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — While much of the nation is buried in snow, glazed by ice or just plain shivering in the cold, it’s time to play ball in the desert.

Spring training officially began Thursday when Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers reported, with their first workout set for Friday.

On the other side of suburban Phoenix, in Glendale, Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers report on Saturday.

Full-squad workouts for both teams begin next week.

The Diamondbacks and Dodgers get an early start because they will open the MLB season with a two-game series in Australia on March 2223.

The rest of the teams begin workouts next week at their spring training haunts in Arizona and Florida.

Arizona’s reporting date signals the beginning of preparation for a season that won’t end until the World Series eight months from now.

The Diamondbacks are coming off consecutive 81-81 seasons and face the prospect, like the rest of the NL West, of trying to compete with the cash- and pitching-rich Dodgers.

Arizona wanted to add a veteran starter in the offseason and still may.

A person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday that the Diamondbacks were talking with representatives of Bronson Arroyo with the possibility of landing the 36-year-old right-hander. The person asked not to be identified because the talks had not been made public. The Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles also reportedly have interest in Arroyo.

If no changes are made, the Diamondbacks’ rotation is expected to include left-handers Patrick

SEE BASEBALL, PAGE B6

MATT WALSH/ THE SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO

Crestwood freshman Tyana Saunders, right, and the rest of the Lady Knights are looking to secure their third straight Region VI-3A title with a victory over rival Lakewood tonight at The Swamp. CHS is 7-0 in region play while the Lady Gators are 6-1.

Friday coronation?

Crestwood girls win away from 3rd straight Region VI-3A crown

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt, right, and Blake Lalli pick up baseballs after an informal workout with teammates on Thursday one day prior to MLB spring training baseball starting for pitchers and catchers at the Diamondbacks training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz.

It was a little less than three weeks ago when the Crestwood and Lakewood varsity girls basketball teams met at The Castle with Region VI-3A supremacy up for grabs.

The two teams meet again today at 6 p.m. at The Swamp – and even more is likely on the line.

The Lady Knights can clinch their third straight region title with a victory, while the Lady Gators can pull even by posting their first win over their cross-

county rivals this season.

The race for the top seed is down to just these two as Manning, Hartsville, Darlington and Marlboro County are all below .500 in region play.

“It’s a big game and rivalry game, so that always adds something to the mix,” Crestwood head coach Tony WILSON Wilson said. “We know Lakewood’s a good team and a hungry team.

We know they’re going to bring a lot of pressure, so we just have to stay calm and focused and see if

we can come out with a victory.”

The Lady Knights, who are 18-3 overall and 7-0 in the region, handled LHS’ pressure well last time out. Crestwood shut down the Lady Gators’ offense in a 53-25 victory – holding Lakewood leading scorer Sonora Dengkol to 13 points and holding the entire team to just a single first-half field goal as CHS built a 22-4 halftime lead.

“We wanted someone pressuring (Dengkol) at all times,” said Wilson, whose team also beat Lakewood 55-47 in the Lake

SEE REGION, PAGE B3

USC SUMTER SOFTBALL

LOCAL BOXING

Stepping forward

Bryan to hold last public workout this Saturday at Team Robinson MMA

USCS softball hoping freshmen can take team to next level

BY JUSTIN DRIGGERS jdriggers@theitem.com

BY MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER mchristopher@theitem.com If the University of South Carolina Sumter softball program is going to take the next step to becoming more consistent and competitive, it will do so with some new faces this year.

“You work from August to the beginning of February all for the next three months, so it’s fun and exciting to see where all the hard work is going to put you,” said USCS head coach Adrienne Cataldo.

USCS and FDTC will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon.

The Fire Ants are coming

MATT WALSH/ THE SUMTER ITEM

University of South Carolina Sumter freshman outfielder Kendal Winge and around 11 other first-year players will hope to help the Lady Fire Ants softball team build off its best season in school history. off a 21-20 season and a fourth-place finish in the National Junior College

Athletic Association Region

SEE USCS, PAGE B3

On Valentine’s Day, Sumter area residents can watch Lakewood High School graduate Jeremy Bryan on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights live on television.

On Saturday, though, they can BRYAN see the 2-time national Gold Gloves champion live and in person.

Gearing up for his Feb. 14 bout with Issouf Kinda on Long Island in New York, Bryan will hold his last public workout and sparring session from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday at Team Robinson MMA at 262 South Pike West.

“I just wanted to show the kids and show everyone that

COMING SUNDAY Bryan changes training, approach for ESPN2 fight after last loss

anybody can be a champion,” Bryan said. “Anybody from anywhere can do it. If you have a dream and believe in yourself and God, you can do anything.

“Why not Jeremy Bryan from Sumter?”

The session is free and open to the public. Food and drinks will be provided with

SEE BRYAN, PAGE B6

B2

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SPORTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

SCOREBOARD TV, RADIO TODAY

9 a.m. -- Professional Golf: European PGA Tour Joburg Open Second Round from Johannesburg (GOLF).

12:30 p.m. -- Senior PGA Golf: Champions Tour Allianz Championship First Round from Boca Raton, Fla. (GOLF).

3 p.m. – PGA Golf: Pebble Beach ProAm National Second Round from Pebble Beach, Calif. (GOLF).

6:05 p.m. -- Talk Show: Sports Talk (WPUB-FM 102.7, WDXY-FM 105.9, WDXY-AM 1240).

7 p.m. -- College Hockey: Western Michigan at Miami (Ohio) (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

7 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Portland at Indiana (ESPN).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Manhattan at Canisius (ESPNU).

7 p.m. -- College Basketball: Seton Hall at Villanova (FOX SPORTS 1).

7 p.m. -- NHL Hockey: Florida at Carolina (FOX SPORTSOUTH).

7:30 p.m. -- International Athletics: Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony from Sochi, Russia (WIS 10).

7:30 p.m. -- College Hockey: Maine at Notre Dame (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

9 p.m. -- Women’s College Gymnastics: Utah State at Brigham Young (BYUTV).

9 p.m. -- Professional Boxing: Robert Garcia vs. Norberto Gonzalez in a Middleweight Bout from Chicago (ESPN2).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: Detroit at Valparaiso (ESPNU).

9 p.m. -- College Basketball: DePaul at Creighton (FOX SPORTS 1).

9:30 p.m. -- College Basketball: Marshall at Southern Mississippi (CBS SPORTS NETWORK).

9:30 p.m. -- NBA Basketball: Minnesota at New Orleans (ESPN).

11 p.m. -- College Basketball: Santa Clara at Brigham Young (BYUTV).

12:30 a.m. -- College Basketball: Hawaii Pacific at Brigham Young-Hawaii (BYUTV).

3 a.m. -- International Athletics: Winter Olympics from Sochi, Russia -Women’s Hockey Preliminary-Round Game: United States vs. Finland (NBC SPORTS NETWORK).

PREP SCHEDULE TODAY

Varsity Basketball Carolina Forest at Sumter, 6 p.m.

Crestwood at Lakewood, 6 p.m.

Manning at Marlboro County, 6 p.m.

Kingstree at Lee Central, 6 p.m.

C.E. Murray at East Clarendon, 6 p.m.

Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball Scott’s Branch at Carvers Bay (No JV Girls), 5 p.m.

Laurence Manning at Florence Christian, 4 p.m.

Thomas Sumter at Palmetto Christian, 4 p.m.

Clarendon Hall at Colleton Prep, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY

Varsity Basketball Laurence Manning at Spartanburg Christian, 2 p.m.

B Team Basketball Laurence Manning at Calhoun, 10 a.m.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

By The Associated Press TODAY EAST Manhattan at Canisius, 7 p.m.

Yale at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

Monmouth (NJ) at Fairfield, 7 p.m.

Brown at Harvard, 7 p.m.

Iona at Niagara, 7 p.m.

Cornell at Penn, 7 p.m.

Columbia at Princeton, 7 p.m.

Siena at St. Peter’s, 7 p.m.

Seton Hall at Villanova, 7 p.m.

SOUTH Mercer at Kennesaw St., 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Tulane, 8 p.m.

Marshall at Southern Miss., 9:30 p.m.

MIDWEST Detroit at Valparaiso, 9 p.m.

DePaul at Creighton, 9:07 p.m.

SATURDAY EAST Fairleigh Dickinson at CCSU, 11:30 a.m.

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, Noon Lafayette at Boston U., 1 p.m.

Butler at Georgetown, 1 p.m.

Colgate at American U., 2 p.m.

Maine at Binghamton, 2 p.m.

James Madison at Drexel, 2 p.m.

George Mason at Duquesne, 2 p.m.

Loyola (Md.) at Lehigh, 2 p.m.

Rider at Quinnipiac, 2 p.m.

Wagner at Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.

Robert Morris at St. Francis (NY), 2 p.m.

New Hampshire at Stony Brook, 2 p.m.

Coll. of Charleston at Towson, 2 p.m.

Mass.-Lowell at UMBC, 2 p.m.

Navy at Army, 4 p.m.

Mount St. Mary’s at Bryant, 4 p.m.

Fordham at George Washington, 4 p.m.

Dayton at St. Bonaventure, 4 p.m.

St. Francis (Pa.) at LIU Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m.

Saint Louis at La Salle, 5 p.m.

Duke at Boston College, 6 p.m.

Cornell at Princeton, 6 p.m.

Brown at Dartmouth, 7 p.m.

Albany (NY) at Hartford, 7 p.m.

Yale at Harvard, 7 p.m.

UNC Wilmington at Hofstra, 7 p.m.

William & Mary at Northeastern, 7 p.m.

Columbia at Penn, 7 p.m.

VCU at Saint Joseph’s, 8 p.m.

SOUTH Morehead St. at E. Kentucky, 11 a.m.

Alabama at Florida, Noon Virginia at Georgia Tech, Noon Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville St., Noon Jacksonville at Stetson, 1 p.m.

Charleston Southern at VMI, 1 p.m.

Kentucky at Mississippi St., 1:30 p.m.

Longwood at Coastal Carolina, 2 p.m.

Middle Tennessee at FIU, 2 p.m.

NC State at Miami, 2 p.m.

Radford at Presbyterian, 2 p.m.

Liberty at UNC Asheville, 2 p.m.

Appalachian St. at W. Carolina, 2 p.m.

Florida St. at Maryland, 3 p.m.

South Carolina at Tennessee, 3 p.m.

SC State at Delaware St., 4 p.m.

Auburn at LSU, 4 p.m.

Coppin St. at Md.-Eastern Shore, 4 p.m.

Norfolk St. at Morgan St., 4 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman at NC Central, 4 p.m.

Nicholls St. at Northwestern St., 4 p.m.

Arkansas at Vanderbilt, 4 p.m.

Campbell at Winthrop, 4 p.m.

Austin Peay at Belmont, 5 p.m.

UTSA at East Carolina, 5 p.m.

Southern U. at Grambling St., 5 p.m.

ETSU at Lipscomb, 5 p.m.

Missouri at Mississippi, 5 p.m.

Howard at Hampton, 6 p.m.

Alabama St. at MVSU, 6 p.m.

Florida A&M at NC A&T, 6 p.m.

Alcorn St. at Jackson St., 6:30 p.m.

Furman at Davidson, 7 p.m.

Georgia Southern at Elon, 7 p.m.

UAB at FAU, 7 p.m.

High Point at Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m.

North Texas at Louisiana Tech, 7 p.m.

SC-Upstate at N. Kentucky, 7 p.m.

UTEP at Old Dominion, 7 p.m.

Chattanooga at Samford, 7 p.m.

North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast, 7:03 p.m.

Wofford at The Citadel, 7:05 p.m.

Texas A&M at Georgia, 8 p.m.

Rutgers at South Florida, 8 p.m.

Murray St. at Tennessee St., 8:30 p.m.

Gonzaga at Memphis, 9 p.m.

MIDWEST North Carolina at Notre Dame, Noon Nebraska at Northwestern, 1 p.m.

Cleveland St. at Wright St., 1 p.m.

Texas at Kansas St., 1:30 p.m.

Toledo at Ball St., 2 p.m.

Kent St. at E. Michigan, 2 p.m.

Milwaukee at Green Bay, 2 p.m.

Michigan at Iowa, 2 p.m.

Miami (Ohio) at Ohio, 2 p.m.

W. Illinois at Nebraska-Omaha, 2:07 p.m.

SE Missouri at E. Illinois, 3 p.m.

Providence at Xavier, 3 p.m.

TCU at Iowa St., 4 p.m.

West Virginia at Kansas, 4 p.m.

IPFW at N. Dakota St., 5 p.m.

IUPUI at S. Dakota St., 5 p.m.

UMKC at Chicago St., 5:30 p.m.

Purdue at Ohio St., 6 p.m.

Buffalo at Cent. Michigan, 7 p.m.

Missouri St. at S. Illinois, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Minnesota, 8:15 p.m.

Wichita St. at N. Iowa, 9 p.m.

UT-Martin at SIU-Edwardsville, 9 p.m.

SOUTHWEST

Texas A&M-CC at Abilene Christian, 4 p.m.

Tulsa at Rice, 4 p.m.

New Orleans at Cent. Arkansas, 5 p.m.

Houston Baptist at Incarnate Word, 5 p.m.

Lamar at Sam Houston St., 5 p.m.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Texas St., 5:30 p.m.

W. Kentucky at UALR, 6 p.m.

Baylor at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.

McNeese St. at Stephen F. Austin, 7 p.m.

Cincinnati at SMU, 7:30 p.m.

SE Louisiana at Oral Roberts, 8 p.m.

Alabama A&M at Ark.-Pine Bluff, 8:30 p.m.

Texas Southern at Prairie View, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma St. at Texas Tech, 9:30 p.m.

THE SUMTER ITEM

GIRLS AREA ROUNDUP

WH’s Pitts wins SCISA bowling title COLUMBIA – Kaylee Pitts of Wilson Hall won the SCISA girls individual state bowling tournament on Tuesday at Royal Z Lanes.

Pitts rolled an even 500 in the 3-game series, beating Thomas Sumter Academy’s Sydney Baity by 11 strokes.

Lisa Bellini of Cardinal Newman was third at 484 followed by Ashleigh Atkins of Laurence Manning Academy at 453 and Kristen Miller of Wilson Hall at 445.

Each of those girls made the all-state team.

LMA’s Callie Morris finished eighth and TSA’s Courtney Simpson was 10TH.

ence tournament on Wednesday at the Hillcrest gymnasium.

Bolden scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Sedejah Rembert and Chazen Regalado each had eight points for Hillcrest.

Destinee Jamison led Ebenezer with nine points.

Hillcrest will play at Furman on Monday at 5 p.m. in a semifinal game. Furman beat Mayewood on Wednesday in a first-round game.

JUNIOR VARSITY BASKETBALL Crestwood 26 Lakewood 18

MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL Hillcrest 43 Ebenezer 17

DALZELL – Jayla Bolden had a doubledouble to lead Hillcrest Middle School to a 43-17 victory over Ebenezer in the first round of the Sumter Middle School Confer-

Azariah Dixon scored 10 points to lead the Crestwood JV team to a 26-18 victory over Lakewood on Thursday at The Castle.

Alexandria Dukes added seven points for the Lady Knights, who improved to 8-6 overall and 4-4 in the region.

Crestwood travels to Darlington on Monday.

NBA STANDINGS

BOYS AREA ROUNDUP

By The Associated Press

Anderson leads Mayewood past Hillcrest

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION W Toronto 26 Brooklyn 21 New York 19 Boston 17 Philadelphia 15 SOUTHEAST DIVISION W Miami 35 Atlanta 25 Washington 24 Charlotte 22 Orlando 14 CENTRAL DIVISION W Indiana 38 Chicago 24 Detroit 19 Cleveland 16 Milwaukee 9

L 23 25 30 33 35

Pct .531 .457 .388 .340 .300

GB – 3½ 7 9½ 11½

L 13 23 24 28 37

Pct .729 .521 .500 .440 .275

GB – 10 11 14 22½

L 10 24 29 33 40

Pct .792 .500 .396 .327 .184

GB – 14 19 22½ 29½

WESTERN CONFERENCE SOUTHWEST DIVISION W San Antonio 36 Houston 33 Dallas 29 Memphis 26 New Orleans 21 NORTHWEST DIVISION W Oklahoma City 40 Portland 35 Denver 24 Minnesota 24 Utah 16 PACIFIC DIVISION W L.A. Clippers 34 Golden State 29 Phoenix 29 L.A. Lakers 17 Sacramento 17

L 13 17 21 22 27

Pct .735 .660 .580 .542 .438

GB – 3½ 7½ 9½ 14½

L 11 14 23 25 32

Pct .784 .714 .511 .490 .333

GB – 4 14 15 22½

L 18 20 20 32 32

Pct .654 .592 .592 .347 .347

GB – 3½ 3½ 15½ 15½

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Orlando 112, Detroit 98 Boston 114, Philadelphia 108 San Antonio 125, Washington 118,2OT L.A. Lakers 119, Cleveland 108 Houston 122, Phoenix 108 Oklahoma City 106, Minnesota 97 Dallas 110, Memphis 96 New Orleans 105, Atlanta 100 Portland 94, New York 90 Denver 110, Milwaukee 100 Sacramento 109, Toronto 101 Miami 116, L.A. Clippers 112

THURSDAY’S GAMES

San Antonio at Brooklyn, 8 p.m.

Chicago at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Oklahoma City at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Portland at Indiana, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Washington, 7 p.m.

Sacramento at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Brooklyn at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Denver at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Utah at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Minnesota at New Orleans, 9:30 p.m.

Toronto at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

NHL STANDINGS

By The Associated Press

EASTERN CONFERENCE ATLANTIC DIVISION GP W L OT Boston 55 36 16 3 Tampa Bay 56 32 19 5 Montreal 57 30 21 6 Toronto 58 30 22 6 Detroit 56 25 19 12 Ottawa 57 25 21 11 Florida 56 22 27 7 Buffalo 56 15 33 8 METROPOLITAN DIVISION GP W L OT Pittsburgh 57 40 15 2 N.Y. Rangers 57 31 23 3 Columbus 56 29 23 4 Philadelphia 57 28 23 6 Carolina 55 25 21 9 New Jersey 57 23 21 13 Washington 57 25 23 9 N.Y. Islanders 5822 28 8

Pts GF GA 75 167 120 69 163 139 66 139 139 66 171 180 62 146 158 61 164 182 51 137 175 38 108 169 Pts GF GA 82 183 134 65 150 141 62 167 156 62 157 165 59 138 153 59 133 142 59 164 173 52 160 191

WESTERN CONFERENCE CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF GA Chicago 59 35 10 14 84 207 161 St. Louis 55 37 12 6 80 189 130 Colorado 56 36 15 5 77 168 148 Minnesota 58 30 21 7 67 142 145 Dallas 57 26 21 10 62 162 163 Winnipeg 58 28 25 5 61 163 167 Nashville 57 25 23 9 59 142 172 PACIFIC DIVISION GP W L OT Pts GF GA Anaheim 59 40 14 5 85 191 145 San Jose 58 36 16 6 78 172 140 Los Angeles 58 30 22 6 66 137 127 Vancouver 58 27 22 9 63 143 152 Phoenix 56 26 20 10 62 160 167 Calgary 56 21 28 7 49 132 175 Edmonton 58 19 33 6 44 150 196 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

WEDNESDAY’S GAMES

Pittsburgh 5, Buffalo 1 Chicago 2, Anaheim 0 San Jose 2, Dallas 1, OT Thursday’s Games Calgary at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Winnipeg at Washington, 7 p.m.

Vancouver at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Buffalo at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Detroit at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Boston at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Nashville at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Columbus at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

TODAY’S GAMES

Edmonton at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Florida at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Columbus at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Calgary at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Antonio Anderson scored 21 points as Mayewood Middle School defeated Hillcrest 61- 35 on Thursday in the first round Sumter Middle School Conference tournament at the Mayewood gymnasium.

Jerrell Kelley added 15 points for the Vikings followed by Jaron Richardson with 10 and Rufus McCray with eight.

Khadary Stephens led Hillcrest with 14 points.

Imari Hurtle added six and Sheddrick Ervin finished with four points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Mayewood will host Chestnut Oaks in a second-

round game on Monday at 5 p.m.

VARSITY BOWLING

Alice Drive 38 Ebenezer 30

COLUMBIA — Defending state champion Alex Price of Wilson Hall finished fifth in the SCISA boys individual bowling state tournament on Tuesday at Royal Z Lanes.

Price rolled a 3-game score of 503. His finish earned him a spot on the all-state team.

Jonathan Lovett of Cardinal Newman won with a 780.

Christian Gurney of Cathedral Academy was second at 680 followed by Angelo Carrabba of Hilton Head Prep at 529 and Mikey O’Cain of Orangeburg Prep at 505.

Terrell Houston and Matthew McCutcheon each scored 10 points to lead Alice Drive to a 38-30 victory over Ebenezer on Thursday in the first round of the Sumter Middle School Conference tournament at the Hawks gymnasium.

Cameron Singleton added eight points for the Hawks, who will travel to Bates on Tuesday for a spot in the championship game on Thursday.

PRICE FINISHES FIFTH

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Carolina tops Mississippi State 71-64 STARKVILLE, Miss.— Aleighsa Welch scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Elem Ibiam blocked a career-high seven shots and No. 6 South Carolina beat Mississippi State 71-64 Thursday night.

The Gamecocks (21-2, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) tied a school record with 14 blocked shots. Alaina Coates added three blocked shots.

South Carolina appeared to have the game in hand with a 52-40 lead midway through the second half, but Mississippi State pulled within 55-54 with 6:25 remaining.

The game stayed tight until the final minute when Tina Roy hit a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left to put the Gamecocks ahead 66-59.

Mississippi State (16-8, 3-7) lost for just the third time at home this season. Jerica James led the Bulldogs with 11 points.

Martha Alwal and Savannah Carter both added 10.

Mississippi State’s offensive tendency to drive played right into South Carolina’s hands. Ibiam blocked five shots in the first half and Coates swatted three more before halftime.

South Carolina pushed ahead early, using an 11-0 run to lead 17-9 less than seven minutes into the game.

But Mississippi State stayed close despite South Carolina’s fierce interior defense.

James hit an 18-foot jumper late in the first half to pull the Bulldogs within 34-29 at halftime.

Mississippi State closed the gap to 34-32 early in the second half on Dominique Dillingham’s layup, but South Carolina countered with five straight points and pushed its advantage to 52-40 on Khadijah Sessions’ 3-pointer with 11:30 left.

Sessions finished with 14 points.

It hurt Mississippi State when Alwal left the game because of foul trouble in the second half. The 6-foot-4 junior is the team’s one true post option and the only player big enough to guard South Carolina’s frontcourt.

The Bulldogs made a run without her.

James made three 3-pointers to keep Mississippi State close, but the rest of the offense couldn’t make enough shots to ever take the lead.

Mississippi State shot just 21 of 63 (33.3 percent) from the field.

(5) DUKE 78 CLEMSON 51

CLEMSON— Haley Peters scored 17 points, Tricia Liston had 15 points and 10 rebounds and No. 5 Duke bounced back from its first Atlantic Coast Conference defeat with its 18th straight win over Clemson, 78-51 on Thursday night.

The Blue Devils (22-2, 9-1 ACC) fell to new league rival Notre Dame 88-67 last Sunday and trailed Clemson (11-13, 3-7) late in the first half of this one. But Duke put together a 32-12 run starting in the

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mississippi State center Martha Alwal (10) has her layup blocked by South Carolina center Alaina Coates (41) during the Lady Gamecocks’ 71-64 victory on Thursday in Starkville, Miss. final minute before halftime to take control.

It was Peters’ first double-figure showing in three games while Liston posted her third game this season with double figures in points and rebounds.

The Blue Devils held Clemson’s top scorer, Nikki Dixon, to 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting. Dixon had been averaging better than 14 points a game this season.

Richa Jackson had 13 points and Ka’lia Johnson added 10 for Duke.

Duke needed a soft place to land after its disappointing loss to No. 2 Notre Dame on Sunday and Clemson has generally been just that for the Blue Devils, all but one of whose 18 straight series wins have come by 14 points or more.

A year ago, Duke was coming off a defeat to top-ranked Connecticut and rebounded with a 60-46 victory at Littlejohn over the Tigers.

And this one started out like many of the others with Duke in charge.

Blue Devils coach Joanne P. McCallie groused about her team’s lack of stops in the Notre Dame loss. There wasn’t a similar drop off this time as the Tigers were held to 1-of-12 shooting the first eight minutes and Duke jumped out to an 11-2 lead.

Things changed dramatically after that as Clemson found its shooting touch and Duke struggled to hold on to the ball.

The Tigers took off on a 16-6 run to take an 18-17 lead on Dixon’s steal and layup with 4:35 to go. Ka’lia Johnson came back moments later with basket in traffic and got fouled for a three-point play to retake the lead.

From wire reports

SPORTS

THE SUMTER ITEM

USCS FROM PAGE B1

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

USC SUMTER SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

X tournament, both of which are the best in school history.

Five players return and will join a dozen freshmen hoping to make a splash this year.

Cataldo said the incoming class of freshmen has come from competitive high school programs such as Kaitlin Alexander and Jordain Edmondson, both of whom won a state championship last year with East Clarendon High School and Wilson Hall, respectively. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After the fall we tried to get an idea on who was going where,â&#x20AC;? Cataldo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had so many changes as far as the rosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concerned that we were still switching people around and trying to find the best possible fit. I know that sounds crazy, like how are you a day away from your first game and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not sure, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still trying to make sure everyone is in the right position that is going to win us ball games.â&#x20AC;?

Returning to the mound will be Katherine Sams, who had a 5.13 earned run average in seven games last year. She struck out nine and walked

Date Feb. 8 Feb. 15 Feb. 16 March 1 March 2 March 7 March 15 March 29 March 30

Opponent Time Florence Darlington Tech 12/2 p.m.

Patrick Henry Community College 2/4 p.m.

Patrick Henry Community College 12/2 p.m.

Georgia Highlands TBA Georgia Highlands TBA USC Salkehatchie 3/5 p.m.

USC Salkehatchie 1/3 p.m.

Spartanburg Methodist College TBA Spartanburg Methodist College TBA

13 in 30 innings. She and Alexander will do most of the pitching with first-year player and sophomore Shelby Rodgers and Maranda Bolt also seeing action. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel real confident in our team this year; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just going to have to keep working hard and play as a team,â&#x20AC;?

Sams said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I expect to be more of a leader because last year I was able to rely on some sophomores to come in and back me up when I started to get into trouble,â&#x20AC;? she explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This year Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a lot more responsibility, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing more work to be the best I can be and help the team as much as I can.â&#x20AC;?

Alexander was stellar in high school for the Lady Wolverines, going 12-3 with a 1.37 ERA in 56 innings with 47 strikeouts, six walks and one hit by pitch. She allowed 11 earned runs on 36 hits.

Date April April April April April April TBA

5 6 11 12 16 25-27

Opponent Louisburg College Louisburg College Pitt Community College Pitt Community College Florence Darlington Tech NCJAA Region X Tournament NCJAA World Series

All games are double headers

The strongest aspect of the team, for now, appears to be defensively and physically.

Cataldo said she feels very comfortable and confident in the girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ability to play numerous positions, despite only returning a pitcher, catcher, first basemen, right fielder and third basemen.

FIELDING Sophomore catcher Jessica Weir returns while RJ Reid and Edmondson will each see time. Erica Stone, a sophomore, returns at first base and will split time with Edmondson. Second base will be split between Rodgers and Victoria Frink. Shortstop will be a platoon of Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;onna McFadden, Chandler Silvers and returning sophomore Danielle Reeves. Reeves will likely be the starting third baseman and split time with Silvers.

In left field will be freshman Kendall Winge and Mad-

eline Solano. Savanna Platt and Maci Morris will split time in center and right will be covered by returning sophomore Jennifer Melton and Solano.

The question that remains to be answered is who will step up for the team this season. Hoping to build off last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, Winge said she sees this season as an opportunity to do something great. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was telling some of the other players, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I think we have the opportunity to go out there and show other teams that this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the team that USC Sumter had last year, and that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to beat records and prove to everyone that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re better and we can do something special,â&#x20AC;? Winge explained.

LINEUP One thing that stands out about this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team is its

REGION FROM PAGE B1

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

IOC President Thomas Bach, right, hands over the Olympic torch to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the torch relay arrives in Sochi on Thursday ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

Sochiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening show: Let Putinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s games begin

BY ANGELA CHARLTON The Associated Press

SOCHI, Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designed to celebrate a millennium of Russian might and this countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern rebound, and kick off two weeks of extraordinary human endeavors and planetary sportsmanship.

But the ceremony opening the Sochi Olympics on Friday, more than anything, will be about one man: Vladimir Putin.

He charmed and strongarmed his way to hosting the games at a summer beach resort that he envisioned as a winter paradise. He stared down terrorist threats and worldwide wrath at a scarcely veiled campaign against gays. He has shrugged off critiques that construction of the most costly games in Olympic history was both shoddy and corrupt.

Ballet, man-made snow and avant-garde art will make an appearance at Sochiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening ceremonies, though as with all past opening ceremonies, the details are under wraps.

They canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really compete with the cinematic splendor of the London Olympics or the pyrotechnic extravaganza of Beijing, but then again, the Winter Games are usually more low-key.

No matter. All Putin needs is an event that tells the world â&#x20AC;&#x153;Russia is back.â&#x20AC;?

Time 12/2 p.m.

12/2 p.m.

6/8 p.m.

12/2 p.m.

5/7 p.m.

TBA TBA

Marion Christmas Tournament. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wanted to try to limit her and force them to rely on someone else.â&#x20AC;?

LHS was unable to get a balanced scoring attack going that game, but that has not been the case much of the season. The Lady Gators, who are 13-5 and 6-1, have relied on Shanekia Jackson, Shalexia Pack and Kamryn Lemon among others to provide solid secondary scoring options. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a very good all-around team,â&#x20AC;? Wilson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have a couple of girls they can go to besides Sonora, so you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just focus on her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just going to try to mix some things up defensively and see if we can get them offbalance.â&#x20AC;?

The Lady Knights have had a balanced team effort this season as well. Aside from Keanua Williams, Crestwood has seen Cawasha Ceasar emerge as the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading scorer during region play, averaging about 18 points during that time, Wilson said. Shaquanda Miller-McCray also posted a triple-double last game, one of several this season.

Ceasar and Miller-McCray are sophomores while Tyana Saunders is a freshman, giving CHS a young nucleus of talent to go along with senior leadership in Williams, Briana Pressley, Zaria Kelly and Crystal Bennett.

On the boys side, Lakewood can put itself one step closer to clinching the region title with a win. The Gators are 14-8 overall and 6-1 in the region. They hold a 1-game lead over 5-2 Darlington â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whom theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve beaten twice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and 1 ½ games over 4-2 Hartsville, who played 2-4 Marlboro County on Thursday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we had the conversation right after

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B3

speed, despite not having any slappers. Cataldo said Reid, Silvers and Winge each have the ability to be power hitters.

Last year was a great season but many of the players feel this year can be even better.

Weir, Reeves and Stone are the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top returning hitters. Weir led the team with a .309 batting average with one home run, eight runs batted in and 14 walks. Reeves hit .273 with nine RBI and a walk.

Stone hit at a .250 clip with three RBI and a stolen base. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited for the season,â&#x20AC;? Cataldo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each year the team is different, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always different in a good way. This team is different than any other team weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had in the past and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited about it. We have players who are very talented and push each other.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It kind of gives us something to work for, to make this year better than last year,â&#x20AC;? Melton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last year we were really connected and bonded and played well together on the field.â&#x20AC;?

USCS plays in a 5-team region with Spartanburg Methodist, Pitt Community College, USC Salkehatchie, and Louisburg College.

the second Darlington game of going from the hunters to the hunted,â&#x20AC;? Lakewood head coach Terrence Scriven said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to raise your level of play because everyone is coming at you now. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve just tried to keep them focused and not look past the next game. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve stayed focused and humble, so I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be alright moving forward.â&#x20AC;?

LHS escaped The Castle with a 47-42 win earlier this year thanks in large part to free throws.

Crestwood, which is 9-10 and 3-4, is battling for fourth place at the moment behind Lakewood, Darlington, Hartsville and Marlboro County, pending Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outcome. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have a lot at stake too, fighting for (playoff positioning),â&#x20AC;? Scriven said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We expect them to come hard. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got good shooters at the guard position and we fully expect them to come out and put up points.â&#x20AC;?

Both teams have been balanced this season.

Jarvis Johnson leads the Gators with 11.3 points a game followed by Robert Grant at 8.5 and freshman Jalen White at 7.0.

LHS has six players who average at least four points a game, including senior Montrell Epps, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hit some big shots for the Gators this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He hit two free throws against Manning the other night to force the game into double-overtime, he hit the game-winning free throw against Manning the first time and had a game-winning shot against Darlington,â&#x20AC;? Scriven said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He does a lot of things for this team defensively that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily show up in the stat sheet.â&#x20AC;?

The Knights have been led this season by Tyrell Allen, Coby Thomas, Darnell Robateau and James Brailsford, among others.

Why wait for the smile youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always wanted?

OAK PARK FAMILY & AESTHETIC DENTISTRY

Catherine M. Zybak, DMD

BEFORE NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a message meant for millions around the world who will watch the show â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and meant for his countrymen, too.

Russians will form the bulk of the spectators in Sochi for the Olympics, a people whose forebears endured centuries of oppression, a revolution that changed the world, a Soviet experiment that built rockets and nuclear missiles but struggled to feed its people. Russians who sometimes embrace Putinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavy hand because they fear uncertainty more than they crave freedom, and who, despite inhabiting the largest country in the world, feel insecure about their place in it.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pinning especially high hopes on their athletes, once a force to be reckoned with and the pride of the nation. They were an embarrassment at the Vancouver Games in 2010, with just three gold medals and a string of doping busts.

AFTER

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RECRUITING

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

THE SUMTER ITEM

ACC scores recruiting wins after FSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title run

BY JOEDY MCCREARY The Associated Press The top recruiter in the Atlantic Coast Conference this offseason might have been Jameis Winston.

Coach Jimbo Fisher says recruits lined up for the chance to play with the Heisman Trophy winner.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big reason why the defending national champion Seminoles signed one of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best classes â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a group that includes two five-star receivers and a four-star wideout.

Fisher said Wednesday, â&#x20AC;&#x153;They want to play with him and know he can get them the ball.â&#x20AC;?

ACC coaches also used the leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success as a pitch to recruits. Not every coach can say the Heisman winner and defending BCS champ are in their league this year.

The tactic worked. The leagueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schools turned Florida Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory in the BCS title game into 14 individual wins on Signing Day. According to recruiting service Scout. com, four ACC schools â&#x20AC;&#x201D; No. 3 Florida State, No. 10 Miami, No. 26 North Carolina State and No. 28 Clemson â&#x20AC;&#x201D; had top-30 classes, with North Carolina and Virginia Tech close behind.

North Carolina coach Larry Fedora

said with the recruiting success on Wednesday, the national champion and the Heisman winner, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;conference is stronger now than itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever been.â&#x20AC;?

The Seminoles, of course, benefited the most.

They added two highly touted receivers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ermon Lane and Travis Rudolph â&#x20AC;&#x201D; along with running back Dalvin Cook, Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2013 Mr. Football, as the next wave of offensive skill players. Rudolph is ranked the No. 1 receiver by Rivals.com while Lane is rated a five-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout.

It helps to have Winston as a drawing card. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has a definite chance at winning a championship, any time you have a great quarterFISHER back,â&#x20AC;? Fisher said of Winston. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only helped on offense, but I really think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s helped on defense, too. Just our overall team.â&#x20AC;?

Louisville had an extra perk to offer recruits: Being part of the Cardinalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first ACC recruiting class, Scout had coach Bob Petrinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class ranked 45th nationally while Rivals had the Cardinals at No. 46. Both services had Louisville in the middle of

the pack in its new conference.

Now, the challenge for all ACC coaches is to keep the momentum going in 2014 and beyond. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look at how the conference did overall: BEST CLASS

Florida State. Scout.com ranked the Seminolesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; class No. 3 nationally while Rivals.com had Fisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s haul at No. 4.

No ACC school landed more five-star players than Florida State (three) and 13 other players received four stars â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nearly twice as many as Clemson, which had eight.

IMPACT PLAYER

Virginia won just six games in two years but coach Mike London picked up a pair of big victories on Signing Day with two five-star defensive players â&#x20AC;&#x201D; safety Quin Blanding and defensive tackle Andrew Brown. Rivals.com rates Blanding as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top safety and No. 5 overall player while Brown is the top defensive tackle and No. 32 overall player.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Keep an eye on North Carolina RB Elijah Hood. The state AP prep player of the year at Charlotte Catholic, who rushed for 3,690 yards and 53 touch-

downs as a senior, was the only fivestar player to sign with a school in the state. Hood enrolled early at UNC and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t figure to be overwhelmed by the college experience because Fedora says he is â&#x20AC;&#x153;at his best when heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got about 8 million things going on.â&#x20AC;?

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Myles Autry â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a three-star athlete from Norcross, Ga. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; picked Georgia Tech over Florida State in a late-afternoon signing ceremony. The recruiting services had him as a receiver after he caught 30 passes for 336 yards but the Yellow Jackets list him as a running back â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no surprise, because they run the triple option.

BIGGEST DUD

Perhaps Duke was expected to bring aboard a higher-profile class after winning a school-record 10 games, cracking the Top 25 and going toe-to-toe with Texas A&M in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Instead the Blue Devilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; class landed virtually exactly where it always does â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in last place in the league. Both Rivals. com and Scout.com evaluated Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class as the worst in the league although Cutcliffe says the full impact of his programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2013 success wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be felt until 2015 and beyond.

ACC SIGNING DAY CAPSULES ball,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He can make all the different throws, is accurate and has a strong arm. He also has the ability to run the ball.â&#x20AC;?

N.C. STATE The Associated Press An overall look at how the 14 schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference fared Wednesday on Signing Day.

ATLANTIC DIVISION BOSTON COLLEGE National rankings: (Rivals 42; Scout 61).

Best in class: Connor Strachan, lb, Needham, Mass.

Best of the rest: Jonathan Hilliman, rb, Jersey City, N.J.; Harold Landry, de, Fayetteville, N.C.; Mike Knoll, k, Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Late additions: Nat Dixon, wr, Lynn Haven, Fla.; Noa Merritt, dl, Sparta, N.J.; Oseh-Lie Saine, dl, Lincoln, R.I. One that got away: Defensive back Tre Tarpley from Pittsburgh, Pa., flipped his commitment from BC to Vanderbilt over the weekend.

NOTE: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is our class. Last year we were able to bring in a couple of guys,â&#x20AC;? BC second-year coach Steve Addazio said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a class that we put a full year in to and we know them very well. Anytime you sign 30, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a large number. There can be some misses, but we feel great about this class.â&#x20AC;?

CLEMSON National rankings: (Rivals 13; Scout 28).

Best in class: Deshaun Watson, QB, Gainesville, Ga. The Parade All-American who amassed 17,134 yards of total offense is expected to compete with senior Cole Stoudt and sophomore Chad Kelly for the starterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job.

Watson committed to the Tigers in February 2012 and held firm despite overtures from schools like Alabama, Auburn and Ohio State.

Best of the rest: Artavis Scott, WR, Oldsmar, Fla. Picked Clemson over home-state schools Florida, Florida State and Miami.

Late addition: None. Of the drama-free day, Clemson recruiting coordinator Jeff Scott said â&#x20AC;&#x153;when your 5-star quarterback is already on campus you can sleep a little better the night before signing day.â&#x20AC;?

One that got away: Andrew Williams, DE. Clemson didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have strong hopes of landing Williams, but crossed their fingers before he chose Auburn.

NOTES: Clemsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class includes linebackers Judah Davis and J.D. Davis, the twin sons of former Tigers great Jeff Davis, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now an assistant athletic director for his alma mater. ... Clemsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lone defensive end signee was Richard Yeargin of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., who had committed to Notre Dame but reopened his recruitment after the season.

FLORIDA STATE National rankings: (Rivals 4; Scout 4) Best in class: Dalvin Cook, RB, Miami Central HS Best of the rest: Ermon Lane, WR, Homestead (Fla.) HS; Travis Rudolph, WR, Cardinal Newman (Fla.) HS Late addition: Jaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Von Harrison, WR, Kathleen (Fla.) HS, had been committed to Virginia Tech.

One that got away: Malik McDowell, DE, Southfield (Mich.) HS. NOTE: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Travis Rudolph and Ermon Lane I think our big-time players,â&#x20AC;?

Fisher said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I think Jaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Von (Harrison) is right there in that same caliber of them. And then when you get three of them, so spread the field, inside guys, outside guys, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all big-bodied guys. But the big-bodied guys that have the capability and have the quickness to go inside, which is rare.â&#x20AC;?

LOUISVILLE National rankings: (Rivals 46; Scout 45).

Best in class: Reggie Bonnafon, QB, Louisville. Rated a four-star prospect

by Scout.com, the 6-3, 205-pounder was Louisvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first 2014 signee by the staff of former Cardinals coach Charlie Strong, now at Texas. Bonnafon threw for 2,606 yards and 16 touchdowns against just eight interceptions last season. He also rushed for 895 yards and 18 TDs. Best of the rest: RB L.J. Scott, OL Lukayus McNeil, OL Danny Burns, DE Terry Ramsey, TE Charles Standberry.

Late additions: Sharieff Rhaheed-Muhammad, LB, Fort Pierce, Fla; Cornelius Sturghill, WR, Memphis; Jimmie Terry, OL, Madison, Miss. All three committed to the Cardinals on Wednesday.

One that got away: Devin Pike, TE, Cincinnati. He had committed last July to Louisville but switched to Wake Forest last week after making his official visit.

NOTE: Petrino loves offense and lavishly praised Bonnafon, who fits his philosophy: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really excited about Reggie Bonnafon and being able to have him come in, a guy we feel is very, very talented throwing the

National rankings: (Rivals 30; Scout 26).

Best in class: Kentavius Street (Greenville) is rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. Rivals ranked the defensive end as the No. 2 recruit in North Carolina.

Best of the rest: N.C. State loaded up with instate talent, including safety Germaine Pratt (No. 9 in state by Rivals) and quarterback Jalan McClendon (No. 9 in state by Scout).

Late addition: Cornerback Troy Vincent Jr., son of the former NFL Pro Bowl defensive back, was originally committed to Penn State. But when coach Bill Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien left to coach the NFLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Houston Texans, Vincent switched his commitment to the Wolfpack. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Troyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very technical,â&#x20AC;?

Doeren said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been backpedaling since he was 3 years old.â&#x20AC;?

One that got away: N.C. State couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite reel in instate receiver Trevion Thompson of Durham. Thompson, Scoutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 3-ranked recruit in the state, signed with Clemson.

NOTES: Early enrollee Ty Linton originally signed with rival North Carolina in 2010 before signing to play baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He recently decided to play college football and Doeren â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who had recruited him while an assistant at Wisconsin â&#x20AC;&#x201D; got him to sign with N.C. State instead of UNC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to have a freshman thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 23 years old thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ... going to offer some unique experiences and life lessons to our team,â&#x20AC;? Doeren said. ...

The Wolfpack added five offensive linemen and six defensive linemen. ... N.C. State signed six from Georgia. ... Nine players in the class enrolled for the spring semester.

SYRACUSE National rankings: (Rivals 48; Scout 51).

Best in class: KJ Williams, WR, Bethlehem, Pa. Best of the rest: Alin Edouard, QB, Miami; Steve Ishmael, WR, Miami; Chris Slayton, DE, Chicago.

Late addition: Denzel Ward, OG, Chicago.

One that got away: Zeek Rodney, DT, Rock Hill, S.C.

WAKE FOREST National rankings: (Rivals T-55; Scout 66).

Best in class: Clawsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class had no players rated higher than three stars by either recruiting service. The best of the bunch might be three-star TE Devin Pike (Cincinnati), whom Scout. com rated as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 32nd-best player at his position. Two of Pikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brothers played for the University of Cincinnati.

Best of the rest: The Demon Deacons signed two quarterbacks with impressive pedigrees. Travis Smith

went 41-0 at Ithaca (Mich.) High School with three consecutive state titles. John Wolford threw for 126 career touchdowns at Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; breaking the state record set by Tim Tebow.

Late addition: Fourteen players committed from Jan. 16 to signing day, assistant Zach Stone said. DE Willie Yarbary (Augusta, Ga.) defected from Indianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class after the Hoosiers changed defensive coordinators.

One that got away: Wake Forest got most of the players it wanted. The Demon Deacons offered Demarquis Gates last week but the linebacker signed with Mississippi.

NOTE: Wake Forest appeared to cast a wider net than perhaps in previous years. Clawson signed players from 12 states, including Michigan, Arkansas and Mississippi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am really proud of our staff. We hit the ground running,â&#x20AC;?

Clawson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t one day that a coach could be on the road that we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all on the road.â&#x20AC;?

COASTAL DIVISION DUKE National rankings: (Rivals T-55; Scout 66).

Best in class: Zach Harmon (Toledo, Ohio) is rated as the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20thbest center by Scout.com.

Best of the rest: Cutcliffeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarterbacks always attract attention â&#x20AC;&#x201D; heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a key mentor for Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli Manning â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and his latest QB signees are Johnathan Lloyd (Graham, N.C.) and Nicodem Pierre (Miami). Lloyd enrolled early and took part in Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-Chick-filA Bowl practices, and Cutcliffe says he has â&#x20AC;&#x153;great feet, about as fluid as you would want to be and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quick.â&#x20AC;?

Late addition: Sixteen of Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signees committed in 2012 or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;13. The last to say he would sign â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WR Trevon Lee (Miramar, Fla.) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; made his announcement Monday and Cutcliffe said the Blue Devilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; big year helped sway him. Cutcliffe says Lee â&#x20AC;&#x153;has certainly got a lot of talentâ&#x20AC;? but shied away from saying he would be an immediate difference-maker.

One that got away: None. Duke didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appear to have any late defections from its class because Cutcliffe doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like to play games with the recruiting process. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear the word decommit. ... If you decommit, odds are, you never committed,â&#x20AC;? he said.

NOTE: Cutcliffe spent Sunday watching his pupil Peyton Manning lose the Super Bowl from a luxury box at Metlife Stadium and he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;as Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going in, maybe in the hundreds of people said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We followed your team, we love your team, etc. etc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ... All that does have an effect.â&#x20AC;?

GEORGIA TECH National rankings: (Rivals 47; Scout 47).

Best in class: RB Myles Autry, DB Step Durham

Best of the rest: WR CJ Leggett, C Andrew Marshall, WR Qua Searcy, DE KeShun Freeman, DB Lance Austin, DB Lawrence Austin Late addition: Autry One that got away: DT Mike Sawyers of Nashville signed with Tennessee.

NOTE: Johnson summoned up his customary annual critique of Georgia Tech getting ranked low in recruiting services when he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you go back and look for the last six years, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four teams in the ACC whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won more games than all of the others. Those teams are Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my view of the star system. So if our recruiting is so bad, and that is so accurate, then we must be great coaches. And from what I read from you guys (media) I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have it both ways. So thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the facts. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not spin. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just facts.â&#x20AC;?

MIAMI National rankings: (Rivals 12; Scout 11).

Best in class: Brad Kaaya, QB, West Hills, Calif.

Best of the rest: Malik Rosier, QB, Mobile, Ala.; Trevor Darling, OL, Miami; Joseph Yearby, RB, Miami; KC McDermott, OT, Wellington, Fla.; Chad Thomas, DE, Miami, Fla.; Michael Wyche, DT, East L.A. College.

Late addition: David Njoku, a 215pound wide receiver and tight end from Cedar Grove, N.J., committed last week.

One that got away: Travonte Valentine, a 335-pound defensive tackle from Hialeah, Fla., had committed to the Hurricanes but re-opened the recruiting process last month and signed with Louisiana State.

NORTH CAROLINA National rankings: (Rivals 20; Scout 31).

Best in class: RB Elijah Hood (Charlotte, N.C.) set Mecklenburg County records with 3,690 yards rushing and 53 touchdowns this season. He originally committed to Notre Dame but Fedora credits assistant coach Gunter Brewer with â&#x20AC;&#x153;staying on him. When he realized that, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go across the country to reach all my dreams and goals.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ... That was big.â&#x20AC;?

Best of the rest: Fedora landed the son of NFL and former Wake Forest receiver Ricky Proehl. Fedora says WR Austin Proehl was â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most competitive guy on the fieldâ&#x20AC;? at his summer camp and â&#x20AC;&#x153;you know his dad, you know what his dad has done.

The kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gym rat.â&#x20AC;?

Late addition: North Carolina picked up commitments last month from four-star OL Jared Cohen and threestar WR Devin Perry.

One that got away: None. Fedora says he locked up 20 of his 22 recruits before July 2013, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose anyone to any signing-day drama and kept the class together despite a handful of departures from his coaching staff â&#x20AC;&#x201D; most notably offensive coordinator Blake Andersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move to Arkansas State head coach. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of those

guys committed. ... They werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tied to a coach. They were tied to the university,â&#x20AC;? Fedora said.

NOTE: Fedora has placed an emphasis on recruiting the state of North Carolina, and eight of his signees were from the state. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landed North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past two AP prep players of the year in Hood and T.J. Logan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those eight guys from the state are actually seeing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening here in Chapel Hill. They see the future,â&#x20AC;? Fedora said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They understand what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re preaching and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing it on the field and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting excited.â&#x20AC;?

PITTSBURGH National Rankings: (Scout 42, Rivals 44) Best in class: Alex Bookser, OT, Pittsburgh, Pa. Best of rest: Adonis Jennings, WR, Clementon, N.J. Late addition: Hez Trahan, DE, Philadelphia, Pa. One that got away: Wade Freebeck, QB, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Quotable: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had chances to be around him and had a chance to see him play, and we really think he can add a lot to what we think is a pretty good offensive line group that we have already,â&#x20AC;? Pitt coach Paul Chryst said about offensive tackle recruit Alex Bookser.

VIRGINIA National rankings: (Rivals 40; Scout 40).

Best in class: Quin Blanding, S, 6-4, 210, Virginia Beach. A five-star recruit rated as the top safety prospect in the nation by virtually every recruiting service. He and fellow UVA signee Andrew Brown were named co-Defensive players of the year by Tom Lemming.

Best of the rest: Andrew Brown, DT, 6-4, 290, Chesapeake. Jamil Kamara, WR, 6-2, 210, Virginia Beach. Steven Moss, OL, 6-5, 275, Fredericksburg.

Late addition: None.

One that got away: Will Richardson, OL. Originally committed to the Cavaliers, but flipped a few weeks ago and signed with N.C. State.

NOTE: Despite much speculation about Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future as the Cavaliers stumbled to a 2-10 finish, he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;it was gratifying to see that the young men that made a commitment earlier stuck with their commitment and really galvanized the entire class going down the stretch.â&#x20AC;?

VIRGINIA TECH National rankings: (Rivals 25; Scout 35).

Best in class: Melvin Keihn, LB, 6-2, 215, Towson, Md. Best of the rest: C.J. Reavis, DB, 6-0, 190, Chester, Va. Marshawn Williams, RB, 5-11, 224, Hampton.

Late addition: Raymon Minor, LB, 6-3, 215, Ashland, Va. One that got away: Jaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Von Harrison, WR. Committed to the Hokies long ago, but showed up at his signing in a Florida State hat and signed with the home-state Seminoles. Would have been highest-rated recruit.

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RECRUITING

THE SUMTER ITEM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

|

B5

SEC dominates recruiting rankings once again

BY STEVE MEGARGEE The Associated Press The Southeastern Conference dominates recruiting as thoroughly as it rules the rest of college football.

As Signing Day came to a close Wednesday, SEC schools filled seven of the top nine spots in the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, which equally weigh the ratings of all the major recruiting services. Last year, seven SEC programs ranked among the top 13 teams.

Alabama led the way by finishing atop the team standings for a fourth consecutive year. Other SEC teams in the top 10 included No. 2 LSU, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Georgia and No. 9 Florida.

“It’s the nature of our conference,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said.

“That’s why it’s the most competitive conference in the country.”

The SEC landed most of the top talent in its own territory and made an impact across the country.

According to the 247Sports Composite, SEC schools landed the No. 1 prospect in the state in such non-SEC areas as Arizona (Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen), Iowa (Alabama offensive tackle Ross Pierschbacher), Illinois (LSU linebacker Clifton Garrett), Oklahoma (Alabama quarterback David Cornwell), Virginia (Alabama defensive end Da’Shawn Hand) and Wyoming (Florida offensive tackle Taven Bryan).

The country is getting smaller,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “It is smaller with the technology. Phones are computer devices. Planes fly more efficiently and you can travel more efficiently. That’s what’s going on. Guys want the opportunity to play at the best programs. They want to go to places where they can play as freshmen. They want to go to places where they can show their skills to the NFL. Those schools have those advantages and that’s where the players want to go.”

MILES And even though the SEC must replace departing star quarterbacks Johnny Manziel, A.J. McCarron, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger, it’s reloading quite well. Six of the top eight pro-style quarterbacks in the 247Sports Composite signed with SEC schools: Allen, Will Grier (Florida), Cornwell, Jacob Park (Georgia), Drew Barker (Kentucky) and Sean White (Auburn).

BEST CLASS Alabama’s class was ranked first in the nation by all the major recruiting services and included seven players rated as five-star prospects by at least one service. Alabama’s collection of five-star prospects includes defensive back Tony Brown, linebacker Rashaan Evans, Hand, defensive back Marlon Humphrey, offensive lineman Dominick Jackson, offensive lineman Cam Robinson and all-purpose athlete Bo Scarbrough.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

University of Tennessee head football football coach Butch Jones, center, poses with his signing class’ midterm enrollees on Wednesday in Knoxville, Tenn.

IMPACT PLAYER

any SEC team last season.

LSU’s Leonard Fournette should step in and help the Tigers replace 1,400-yard rusher Jeremy Hill. Georgia’s Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall and Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon have shown recently that SEC running backs can make major impacts as freshmen. Fournette is rated as the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite.

BIGGEST SURPRISES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Texas A&M has a couple of them in Allen and defensive end Myles Garrett. Allen already has enrolled and will participate in spring practice with a legitimate shot at replacing Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner. Defensive end Myles Garrett, the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite, should boost the pass rush of a Texas A&M defense that allowed the most points and yards per game of

Tennessee had its fourth straight losing season last fall and Kentucky went 2-10, yet both teams signed their top classes in recent memory. Tennessee kept the state’s top players at home, something that had been a problem in recent years. Kentucky signed a prize quarterback prospect in Barker - a home-state product - and also made plenty of inroads in nearby Ohio.

BIGGEST DUD

A potential top-25 class at Vanderbilt was decimated after former Commodores coach James Franklin left for Penn State. New coach Derek Mason needed a flurry of commitments in the last 72 hours just to get Vanderbilt back in the top 50.

SEC SIGNING DAY CAPSULES One that got away: DT Poona Ford signed with Texas NOTE: “When we started winning, being successful, he just changed his mind.” — Pinkel on Bauer.

SOUTH CAROLINA

The Associated Press An overall look at how the 14 schools in the Southeastern Conference fared Wednesday on Signing Day.

EAST DIVISION FLORIDA National rankings: (Rivals 7; Scout 10).

Best in class: Jalen Tabor, CB, Washington, D.C. Already enrolled in school, Tabor is a significant addition since starting CBs Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson left school early for the NFL. Best of the rest: David Sharpe, OL, Jacksonville, Fla. Sharpe should help fill the team’s biggest need.

Late addition: Treon Harris, QB, Miami.

Coach Will Muschamp convinced Harris to switch from Florida State to Florida, prying a gifted athlete away from the defending national champion.

One that got away: Adoree’ Jackson, ATH, Gardena, Calif. A budding track star, Jackson probably would have given Florida a top-five class. But he chose USC over Florida, LSU and UCLA. NOTE: Muschamp finds it amusing to see other staffs celebrate signing day. “They film these staff rooms and the staffs all cheer when they get the (guy),” he said. “Most of the time, you know. You know if you’re getting them and you know if you’re not. If you haven’t talked to them in 48 hours, you’re not getting them. So that’s an indicator. If you’re on the phone that morning with mom and dad and brother and uncle, you’re probably going to sign them. But still, you never know. It’s always a little stressful, a little anxious.”

GEORGIA National rankings: (Rivals 8; Scout 12).

Best in class: DE Lorenzo Carter, RB Sony Michel Best of the rest: Chubb, TE Jeb Blazevich, DT Lamont Gaillard, WR Isaiah McKenzie, QB Jacob Park.

Late addition: Georgia made a successful late run to sign McKenzie, who attends the same high school as Michel. McKenzie had Virginia Tech, Florida and Mississippi on his list of finalists. Also, West Hall tight end Hunter Atkinson picked Georgia over Cincinnati, where he had committed.

One that got away: DE Andrew Williams from Eagles Landing Christian Academy near Atlanta chose Auburn over Georgia and Clemson.

NOTE: “He’s a guy that we believe can come in and make an immediate impact on our football team. He’s got a big skill set. I don’t think he’s just a running back. I think he’s got great hands and will be able to do stuff out of the backfield,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo on Michel.

National rankings: (Rivals 22; Scout 30).

Best in class: Bryson Allen-Williams, LB, Ellenwood, Ga. Best of the rest: Dante Sawyer, DE, Suwanee, Ga.; Dexter Wideman, DT, Saluda, S.C. Late addition: ATH Chris Lammons, DT Dexter Wideman.

One that got away: None.

NOTE: The biggest difference in Spurrier’s 2014 class compared to his first classes at South Carolina is he tends to land all the players he wants. “All the papers we sent out came back with a signature on it. Hasn’t always been that way,” Spurrier said.

TENNESSEE National rankings: (Rivals 5; Scout 4).

Best in class: WR Josh Malone is rated as the nation’s No. 27 overall prospect by Rivals.

Best of the rest: RB Jalen Hurd, LB Dillon Bates, S Todd Kelly Jr., DE Dewayne Hendrix, TE Daniel Helm, DE Derek Barnett, RB Derrell Scott, DB D’Andre Payne, DB Rashaan Gaulden and DT Michael Sawyers are all rated among the nation’s top 250 prospects by Rivals.

Late addition: Sawyers, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., withdrew his verbal commitment to Vanderbilt after Penn State hired away former Commodores coach James Franklin. Sawyers visited Tennessee last weekend and signed with the Vols on Wednesday.

One that got away: DE Cory Thomas made a Signing Day switch to Mississippi State after verbally committing to Tennessee.

VANDERBILT National rankings: (Rivals 50; Scout 50).

Best in class: Nifae Lealao, DL, Sacramento, Calif. A 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman, Lealao had a four-star rating by both Rivals and Scout.

Best of the rest: Ronald Monroe, ATH, Houston. Monroe played quarterback but is listed as an athlete.

Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said Monroe is talented enough to play a handful of positions, and they plan to move him around.

Late addition: Lealao came to Vanderbilt for an official visit last weekend, and Mason couldn’t have been hap-

pier after watching the lineman play basketball last week. “To see him on the basketball floor was amazing,” Mason said. “He made my ears perk up, and that doesn’t happen often.”

Tall and lengthy: Mason says he wants “space takers” to fill up lanes, and he got just that with 11 of the 22 players committed listed as 6-3 or taller.

WEST DIVISION ALABAMA National rankings: (Rivals 1; Scout 1).

Best in class: DE Da’Shawn Hand of Woodbridge, Va., could bring a pass rushing prowess that Saban has been seeking.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder collected 56 sacks during his four-year high school career.

Best of the rest: LB Rashaan Evans, OL Cam Robinson, ATH Bo Scarbrough, OL Dominick Jackson and CBs Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey are also five-star prospects, according to at least one service.

Late addition: For the second straight year, Alabama raided rival Auburn’s backyard for a high-profile linebacker. Evans joined Reuben Foster in leaving Auburn High School for Tuscaloosa. “As soon as Rashaan committed to us, Reuben Foster called me and absolutely said that he was a much better recruiter than I was and he was really responsible for that,” Saban said.

One that got away: There weren’t many important targets the Tide whiffed on. They made a late run for Miami commitment (and signee) Chad Thomas, a five-star defensive end.

ARKANSAS National rankings: (Rivals 29; Scout 32).

Best in class: Bijhon Jackson, DT, El Dorado, Ark. Best of the rest: Kendrick Edwards, WR, Miami, Fla.; Cole Hedlund, K, Argyle, Texas; Frank Ragnow, OT, Chanhassen, Minn.; Brian Wallace, OT, Florissant, Mo. Late addition: JoJo Robinson, WR, Miami, Fla. One that got away: Solomon Thomas, DE, Coppell, Texas.

NOTE: “Brian might have been one of our more heavily recruited kids. He’s a very talented young man with nothing but upside in front of him.

He has the potential to maybe help us right away.” — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema on OT Brian Wallace.

AUBURN National rankings: (Rivals 9; Scout 9).

NEED WATER?

Best in class: RB Roc Thomas is a top15 overall recruit by both Rivals and Scout. He could compete with Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Tre Mason in the backfield. “We really feel like he’s got the ability to come in immediately and make a huge impact,” Malzahn said.

Best of the rest: Five-star WR D’haquille Williams, who is already enrolled, was Rivals’ No. 1 junior college prospect. LB Tre’ Williams is another five-star recruit who was rated one of the nation’s top two linebackers by several recruiting sites. Both play positions where Auburn has immediate needs.

Late additions: Auburn picked up two more big men on signing day. Braden Smith of Olathe, Kan., was rated the nation’s top guard by Scout. Auburn targeted him hard after Greg Robinson left for the NFL draft. Auburn beat out Clemson and Georgia for Andrew Williams, rated as the No. 12 defensive end by 247Sports and Rivals.

One that got away: Auburn High School five-star linebacker Rashaan Evans chose Alabama in another signing-day announcement. He would have been Auburn’s top-rated signee if he had signed with his hometown school.

LSU National rankings: (Rivals 2; Scout 2).

Best in class: Leonard Fournette, RB, New Orleans, La. Best of the rest: Malachi Dupre, WR, River Ridge, La. Late addition: Travonte Valentine, DT, Hialeah, Fla. One that got away: Cameron Robinson, OL, West Monroe, La. (Alabama) NOTE: Les Miles on Leonard Fournette: “The inhibitor for a running back is he is big and doesn’t have great speed or he has speed and is not quite big enough. So, you have to work on his speed or build him up.

Leonard Fournette has both size and speed. He has ball skills and great vision. He is a guy who will step in and play.”

MISSISSIPPI National rankings: (Rivals 18; Scout 14).

Best in class: Rod Taylor, OL, Jackson, Miss. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Under Armour All-American could help the Rebels right away on the offensive line. He was the consensus top-rated recruit in Mississippi and among the nation’s top interior offensive linemen.

Best of the rest: Breeland Speaks, DL,

Jackson, Miss.; Markell Pack, WR, Purvis, Miss. Speaks and Pack will be expected to compete for playing time quickly. Pack could help fill the void left by WR Donte Moncrief, who declared for the NFL Draft.

Late addition: Tee Shepard, DB, Fresno, Calif. The Rebels surprised many by landing one of the nation’s top junior college defensive backs. He could help immediately at a spot the Rebels need some depth. Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said Shepard has some work to do academically, but the coach is optimistic he can be eligible next season.

One that got away: Malachi Dupre, WR, New Orleans. The Rebels wanted Dupre, but it was always a long shot to lure the star receiver from LSU.

MISSISSIPPI STATE National rankings: (Rivals 41; Scout 39) Best in class: Aeris Williams, RB, West Point, Miss. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Williams rushed for nearly 4,000 yards during his prep career and could help the Bulldogs’ backfield immediately.

Best of the rest: Gerri Green, LB, Greenville, Miss.; Jamoral Graham, WR, Decatur, Miss. Mississippi State hopes Green is the latest in a long line of quality linebackers in Starkville.

Late addition: Cory Thomas, DL, Bessemer, Ala. The Bulldogs were able to add some depth along the defensive line with Thomas. The 6-foot-5, 273-pounder was also considering Tennessee.

One that got away: Tee Shepard, DB, Fresno, Calif. Mississippi State thought it had a great shot at Shepard, who was one of the nation’s top junior college defensive backs. He ended up signing with rival Mississippi.

TEXAS A&M National rankings: (Rivals 6; Scout 5).

Best in class: QB Kyle Allen.

Best of the rest: DE Myles Garrett.

Late addition: Zaycoven Henderson, DT, Longview, Texas.

One that got away: Mattrell McGraw, DB, New Orleans.

Note: One member of Texas A&M’s recruiting class will never play a down of football for the Aggies. Dallas Skyline cornerback Cedric Collins committed to the Aggies before his junior year in 2012, but discovered at the end of that season that he had a rare congenital cervical problem and couldn’t continue his football career.

The Aggies chose to give him a scholarship anyway, and Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said the decision was about “honoring commitments.”

Night time trips to the bathroom keeping you awake?

KENTUCKY National rankings: (Rivals 14; Scout 20).

Best in class: Drew Barker, QB, Conner, Ky. Ranked by Rivals.com as Kentucky’s top prospect, his early commitment to the Wildcats over South Carolina and others opened the eyes of top-flight recruits who began looking at Kentucky as a viable choice.

Best of the rest: Matt Elam, DE, Elizabethtown, Ky. Chose the Wildcats over Notre Dame and Alabama.

Late addition: Lloyd Tubman, DE. The Louisville native picked Kentucky on Wednesday over the hometown Cardinals and Nebraska.

One that got away: Derrick Kelly, OL. The Havana, Fla., product de-committed from the Wildcats to accept a late offer from national champion Florida State.

NOTE: Barker is among seven recruits enrolled this semester and was featured in a Kentucky football commercial that ran in parts of the state during halftime of Sunday’s Super Bowl. Wildcats offensive coordinator Neal Brown said the new QB “has those abilities that will give him the opportunity to come in and compete, and he’s going to be thrown into the fire this spring.

MISSOURI National rankings: (Rivals 35; Scout 32).

Best in class: Andy Bauer, OL, DeSmet HS, St. Louis, Mo. Best of the rest: Nate Brown, WR, North Gwinnett HS, Suwanee, Ga. Late addition: Spencer Williams, DL, First Coast HS, Jacksonville, Fla.

We are currently recruiting men and women, age 50 years and older, for a research study to evaluate the effectiveness of an investigational nasal spray to reduce the number of times you get up each night to urinate.

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Qualiied participants may receive conidential study related medical care, including physical exam, lab tests, and study medication, at no cost. Additional compensation for travel and other expenses may also be provided.

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OBITUARIES | SPORTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

NEVAEH E. CRUZ MANNING — Nevaeh Elaine Cruz, 7, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2014.

She was born Oct. 24, 2006, she was a daughter of David Lee Jr. and Ashley Copple Cruz. She was a student at F.J. DeLaine Elementary.

She is survived by her parents; one brother, CRUZ David Lee Cruz III; one sister, Amya Cruz; paternal grandmother, Teresa Cruz; maternal grandmother, Hope Gallaway; maternal grandfather, Eric Hopkins (Linda); four uncles; two aunts; and numerous cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Brunson Funeral Home with Pastor Keith Thompson officiating.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Brunson Funeral Home.

You may sign the family’s guest book at www.brunsonfuneralhome.com.

Brunson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 15 E. Hospital St., Manning, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 433-2273.

MAGGIE PEARSON Funeral services for Maggie Pearson were held Tuesday at the Greater Bethel Church of God in Christ, Lakewood, N.J. Ms. Pearson entered eternal rest on Monday, Jan. 27, 2014.

She was a daughter of the late William and Chanie Pearson.

Survivors are three sons, Steven (Rebecca) Pearson, Albert (Carmen) Pearson and Michael (Taleshia) Stewart of Columbia; four grandchildren; four brothers, William, David and Daniel Pearson, all of Sumter, and Jacob (Mary Frances) Pearson of Columbia; six sisters, Anna Louise Pearson and Janie Chestnut, both of Sumter, Carrie Bell

(Eugene) Freeman of Rimini, Eleasa Pearson, Nancy Smith and Emily Pearson.

Courtesy announcement by Community Funeral Home of Sumter.

GARY I. CUMMINGS LEXINGTON — Gary Irvin Cummings, 56, husband of Margaret G. Cummings, died Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at his home.

Born in Sumter, he was a son of the late Leonard B. Jr. and Bessie Lee Rogers Cummings. Gary was a member of Life Springs Worship Center in Lexington. He was the produce supervisor at the Red Bank Wal-Mart Super Center.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years; one brother, Leonard B. “Lenny” Cummings III (Debbie) of Sumter; one sister, Dianne C. Warren (Danny) of Wedgefield; a special uncle and aunt, Elvin and Stella Rogers of Sumter; a special sister, Gayle Rogers of Sumter; and a number of nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sumter First Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2609 McCrays Mill Road, Sumter, with the Rev. Derrick Gardner officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Memorial Park cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of his brother, 27 Barnett Drive, Sumter.

Memorials may be made to Life Springs Worship Center, 5630 Platt Springs Road, Lexington, SC 29703.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.

ESTHER H. DAVIS Esther H. Davis was born

on April 11, 1916, in Sumter, to the late Hazel and Daisy S. Holliday. She departed this life on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, at Carolinas Hospital System in Florence.

Esther was married to the late Robert “Bob” Davis and to this union one daughter was born. Esther was a lifelong member of St. Luke AME Church, Salters.

Esther leaves to mourn her passing: her daughter, Diana Davis Thomas of Florence; a grandson, Damon Thomas of Tennessee; one sister, Missionary Cassie Mitchell of Baltimore, Md.; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-grandnieces, great-great-grandnieces and nephews, great-greatgreat-grandnephews, other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary.

The body will be placed in the church at 11 a.m. Saturday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral service will be held at noon Saturday at Salem Chapel and Heritage Center, 101 S. Salem, Sumter, with Minister Kelvin Bosier officiating and Pastor Clifford Gaymon as eulogist. Interment will follow in Calvary Zion Hill Cemetery in Pinewood.

The family is receiving friends at 8726 Paxville Highway, Manning.

Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary. net.

JANET A. DAVIS Janet Margaret Alston Davis, wife of Hilton Davis, was born May 24, 1949, in Sumter, to the late William Jr. and Martha Howard Alston. She departed this life Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at her residence.

THE SUMTER ITEM Janet accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of High Hills AME Church.

Janet moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., at a young age and relocated back to Sumter in 1993.

Her employment career included the New York City Board of Education in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mariner Nursing Home, Tuomey Healthcare System and Sumter School District 17, until her health failed.

Janet leaves to cherish her memory: her loving husband and caregiver, Hilton Davis Jr.; one son, Jamel Maurice Davis; one daughter, Kewanna Latasha (Cedric) Davis, all of Sumter; one stepson, Steven Knowlin of New York, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Cenai Janiyah Davis, Cedreon JayQual Davis and Jamel Maurice Davis Jr.; one stepgranddaughter, Ashley Knowlin of Kingstree; a niece she reared as her own, Tanesha Alston of Brooklyn; one goddaughter, Latrell Durant; two sisters, Martha Lee Alston and Mary Bantum of Brooklyn; two brothers, Johnny (Deborah) Alston of Sumter and Richard Alston of Detroit, Mich.; three brothers-in-law; three sisters-inlaw; one aunt, Henrietta Russell of Dayton, Ohio; a special friend, Gloria Gadson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Job’s Mortuary.

The body will be placed in the church at 1 p.m. Saturday for viewing until the hour of service.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at High Hills AME Church, 6780 Meeting House Road, Dalzell, with Pastor Thomas Habersham officiating. Interment will follow in High Hills AME Church cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at 4805 Cane Savannah Road, Wedgefield.

Job’s Mortuary Inc., 312 S.

Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.

ETHEL P. SINKLER MANNING — Ethel Plowden Sinkler, widow of James Sinkler Sr., heard her master’s call on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning.

Born Dec. 16, 1945, in Manning, she was a daughter of the late Warren Sr. and Lula Johnson Plowden.

She is survived by one son, James Sinkler Jr. of Manning; one daughter, Kim Sinkler of Sumter; two grandchildren, Tykez and Semaj of Sumter; one brother, Warren (Wilhenenia) Plowden; and two sisters, Martha Bines and Evangelist Cassie (Edward) Gibson, both of Manning.

In addition to her parents, husband, and son, she was preceded in death by brothers, Eugene, David and James; and sisters, Dorothy Lowe, Annie Reddick and Janie Bell Gibson.

Service of remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. John Baptist Church, Brewer Road, Manning. Words of consolation will be brought by the pastor, the Rev. David Pugh. He will be assisted by the Rev. Ranzy McFadden, the Rev. Ruth Pugh, Minister Roberta Pendergrass and the Rev. Terry Johnson.

The service of committal, benediction and interment will follow in the family plot at St. Matthews Cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the residence, 1474 Herod Drive, Manning.

Fleming-Delaine Funeral Home and Chapel of Manning is in charge of services.

Online condolences may be sent to flemingdelaine@aol. com.

SPORTS ITEMS

Loupe leads at Pebble Beach PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Andrew Loupe knows how one week can change everything. He can only hope his 8-under 63 in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am is the start of another one.

Loupe had to wait three hours to tee off because of rain Thursday, and then he played bogey-free on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula.

That gave him LOUPE the lowest score among those who finished their rounds.

Rain soaked the Monterey Peninsula in the morning, which was great news for an area desperate for rain, not so much for the tournament. Puddles quickly formed on the greens at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, forcing play to be stopped on all three courses.

The 25-year-old from Louisiana hasn’t made the cut in five starts his rookie season.

Stuart Appleby, Jim Renner, Richard Lee and Scott Gardiner had 65s at Monterey Peninsula. Phil Mickelson, a fourtime champion, was at 5-under par through 15 holes when the round was stopped because of darkness.

KINER DIES AT 91

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — The baseball Hall of Fame says slugger Ralph Kiner has died. He was 91.

The Hall says Kiner died Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage.

Kiner hit 369 home runs during his 10-year career, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He won or tied for the National League lead in homers in each of his first seven seasons.

After finishing up as a player, Kiner became a popular broadcaster with the New York Mets for more than a half-century. He worked a handful of games last year.

CAVALIERS FIRE GM GRANT

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The flailing Cleveland Cavaliers have fired general manager Chris Grant.

With the Cavs sliding further toward the bottom in another disappointing season, owner Dan Gilbert decided to make the move a day after Cleveland was beaten Wednesday night by an injury-ravaged Los Angeles Lakers team that finished the game with just five players.

Grant’s tenure will be known for not being able to rebuild the Cavs fast enough despite having a slew of firstround draft picks, including two No. 1 overall selections.

Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is the acting general manager.

RODNEY, M’S AGREE TO $14M DEAL

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners’ wallet is still open.

They reached agreement Thursday on a $14 million, twoyear deal with reliever Fernando Rodney, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a physical. The deal, first reported by ESPN, also includes performance bonuses.

TRUMBO, D-BACKS AGREE AT $4.8 M

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with Mark Trumbo by agreeing Thursday to a $4.8 million. one-year contract with the outfielder.

Arizona acquired Trumbo from the Los Angeles Angels in December in a three-team trade that also included the Chicago White Sox. Trumbo hit 34 home runs last season and 32 in 2012. He has 95 home runs since reaching the major leagues in 2011.

BASEBALL FROM PAGE B1

‘14 MLB Spring Training Dates The Associated Press

Corbin and Wade Miley and right-handers Trevor Cahill and Brandon McCarthy.

Young right-hander Randall Delgado and top minor league prospect Archie Bradley could vie for the other rotation spot.

Diamondbacks players went through informal workouts in relatively chilly weather, at least by Arizona standards, on Thursday. Temperatures were in the low 60s but were expected to rise to the high 70s over the weekend.

Kirk Gibson is entering his fourth season as manager and earlier this week got an extension of his contract, which had been set to expire this year. He said the early start to spring training will mean a larger gap between the start of full-squad workouts and the beginning of spring games.

“We’ll come in on the 11th and our first game’s on the 26th,” he said. “It gives us a challenge. We need to get our pitchers ready to be ready to go on March 22.”

After the long trip to Australia, the Diamondbacks and Dodgers will come back to Arizona to complete spring training before their stateside regular-season openers.

“The season’s going to be a little longer, “ Gibson said, “but if you look at the other people that have played abroad early, I think there’s 10 teams that went and five of them have went to postseason play.”

Even though it’s an early start to spring training, McCarthy said players are more than ready to get back at it.

“In the last month is when you start to hit that boredom point,” he said. “You’re done with the offseason, you’re sick of your loved ones, you want to get out of your house. Now it turns real and you kind of get back to work.”

The other significant addition to the Diamondbacks pitching staff is Addison Reed, The 25-year-old right-hander had 69 saves the last two seasons with the Chicago White Sox, 40 last year. Arizona acquired him from the White Sox for third baseman Matt Davidson.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

AMERICAN LEAGUE P&C Full Squad 1st Workout 1st Workout Baltimore Feb. 14 Feb. 19 Boston Feb. 17 Feb. 20 Chicago White Sox Feb. 15 Feb. 20 Cleveland Feb. 13 Feb. 17 Detroit Feb. 14 Feb. 18 Houston Feb. 16 Feb. 20 Kansas City Feb. 15 Feb. 20 L.A. Angels Feb. 14 Feb. 19 Minnesota Feb. 17 Feb. 22 N.Y. Yankees Feb. 15 Feb. 20 Oakland Feb. 15 Feb. 20 Seattle Feb. 13 Feb. 18 Tampa Bay Feb. 15 Feb. 20 Texas Feb. 17 Feb. 20 Toronto Feb. 17 Feb. 21

P&C Full Squad 1st Workout 1st Workout Arizona Feb. 7 Feb. 12 Atlanta Feb. 14 Feb. 19 Chicago Cubs Feb. 14 Feb. 19 Cincinnati Feb. 14 Feb. 19 Colorado Feb. 17 Feb. 23 L.A. Dodgers Feb. 9 Feb. 14 Miami Feb. 16 Feb. 20 Milwaukee Feb. 17 Feb. 22 N.Y. Mets Feb. 17 Feb. 22 Philadelphia Feb. 13 Feb. 18 Pittsburgh Feb. 13 Feb. 18 St. Louis Feb. 13 Feb. 18 San Diego Feb. 14 Feb. 19 San Francisco Feb. 15 Feb. 19 Washington Feb. 15 Feb. 20 *P&C-Pitchers Catchers

and

Reed hasn’t been anointed the Arizona closer yet, though, facing competition from the likes of J.J. Putz, David Hernandez and Brad Zeigler.

“Obviously everybody knows that I want to close. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do,” Reed said, “but I’m here and whatever they have me do is what I’ll do and I’ll be happy to. As long as I’m out there throwing, I’ll be a happy guy.”

McCarthy said that a core group of Arizona players plans to take a bigger leadership role in the coming year.

“I think there’s a group of guys here that know exactly what they want,” he said.

“Last year I think we were kind of getting there but we didn’t have that true leadership that really came through. It’s the one thing I’ve seen just in talking to guys so far, that here’s an idea of exactly what we want and I think we know how to implement that now.

“You’re going to see a clubhouse of guys that go out of their way to get things the way they want it, to set an attitude the way they want it.”

TOYOTA LANDS DAYTONA RIGHTS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Toyota Motor Corp. on Thursday became the first company to land a naming rights deal at the revamped Daytona International Speedway.

The Japanese automaker and International Speedway Corp., which owns the famous Florida track, announced the sponsorship deal at the Chicago Auto Show.

From wire reports

BRYAN FROM PAGE B1 drawings for door prizes held every 30 minutes.

The first 25 people in the door with receive a free autographed picture of Bryan.

Team Bryan T-shirts will be on sale for $25 and autographed posters will be available for $5 each.

“I wanted to give the opportunity for the public to

come out and support a local kid as he tries to become a champion,” Bryan said. “I want to put Sumter back on the (boxing) map and try to make history.”

Bryan, who is native of New Jersey, is 16-3 with seven knockouts. He will be facing Kinda (16-1, 6 KOs), who is a native of Burkina

Faso in West Africa, but fights out of the Bronx in N.Y. The two will meet in an 8-round junior welterweight fight at the Paramount Theatre in Huntington, N.Y., as the co-feature bout on the Friday Night Fights card which begins airing at 9 p.m.

The main event will feature Chris Algieri against Emmanuel Taylor.

TELEVISION

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WIS News 10 at 2014 Olympic Winter Games: Opening Ceremony: from Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia no~ (HD) WIS News 10 at (:05) Late Night 7:00pm Local 11:00pm News with Jimmy Fallon (N) (HD) news update. and weather.

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Men Internet mo- Mother’s Day Men Wedding Day (N) (HD) Anniversary Ball report and weather forecast. plans. (HD) (N) (HD) (HD) tended. (HD) (HD) gul. (HD) Family Feud (N) Family Feud (N) Monk: Mr. Monk Is Underwater Monk: Mr. Monk Falls in Love Monk King of the Hill: The Cleveland The Arsenio Hall Show Scheduled: Dish Nation (N) Monk fears water, but investigates falls for woman accused of murder- Torch Song Show Cleveland’s game show host Drew Carey. (N) death inside a submarine. (HD) ing cab driver. (HD) Hillogy diet. (HD) (HD)

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Have Fallen Revelation.

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Atlanta (N) Beverly (N) Hills: The Birthday Witch The Kudlow Report (N) Greed: Crash and Burn Greed: Blackjack Cheaters Greed: The Mormon Madoff Mad Money Investing advice. (N) Greed Erin Burnett OutFront (N) Anderson Cooper 360° (N) (HD) Piers Morgan LIVE (N) (HD) Crossfire (N) Unguarded Anthony Bourdain Parts (N) 360° (HD) The Colbert Re- Daily Show (HD) Futurama (HD) Futurama (HD) Key & Peele (HD) Key & Peele Tosh.0 (HD) Tosh.0 Internet Grandma’s Boy (‘06, Comedy) a Allen Covert. An adult port (HD) Asian ghost. (HD) artist. (HD) moves in with his grandmother. (HD) Blog Obnoxious Gravity Falls (HD) The Muppets (‘11, Entertainment) aaa Whoopi Mickey Mouse: Austin & Ally Liv and Maddie Austin & Ally A.N.T. Farm (HD) Austin & Ally neighbor.

Goldberg. Saving their theater from a tycoon.

Potatoland (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Gold Rush (HD) Gold Rush: Fantasy Land (HD) Gold Rush: Pay Dirt (N) (HD) Bering Sea Gold (N) (HD) Gold Rush: Pay Dirt (HD) Bering Sea NBA Basketball: Portland Trail Blazers at Indiana Pacers z{| (HD) NBA Basketball: Minnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Pelicans z{| (HD) SportsCenter SportsCenter (HD) Hey Rookie, NFL: 2013: Part II Friday Night Fights: from UIC Pavilion in Chicago z{| (HD) SportsCenter (HD) Olbermann (5:30) The Mummy (‘99, Horror) The Mummy Returns (‘01, Adventure) aac Brendan Fraser. A boy finds himself in a tug-of-war between the The 700 Club Scheduled: Nabeel Bel-Air Will is enaac Brendan Fraser. (HD) Scorpion King and Imhotep.

Quereshi conversion. tranced.

Rachael: Big Game Grub Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (N) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) Diners (HD) On the Record with Greta (N) The O’Reilly Factor (N) (HD) The Kelly File News updates.

Hannity Conservative news. (HD) The O’Reilly Factor (HD) The Kelly File NHL Hockey: Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes from PNC Arena z{| (HD) Postgame The New College Football (HD) Kentucky Football Signing NHL Hockey The Waltons: The Triumph The war The Waltons: The Premonition When Calls the Heart: Secrets and Frasier Frasier Frasier Masseuse Frasier Daphne’s Frasier Engage- Golden: Son-inis coming to a close.

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Progress.

Seinfeld (HD) Family Guy Brain Knocked Up (‘07, Comedy) aaa Seth Rogen. Unexpected pregnancy forces two The Change-Up (‘11, Comedy) aac Ryan Reynolds. Two best friends, tries to act. mismatches to try to coexist. a lawyer and a playboy, accidentally switch bodies.

Life with Father (‘47, Comedy) From Here to Eternity (‘53, Romance) aaac Burt Lancaster. In Hawaii (:15) Stalag 17 (‘53, Drama) aaac William Holden. American soldiers in a German POW William Powell. A family in NYC. before World War II, a young private is abused by his captain. camp suspect one of their own is a spy.

Say Yes (HD) Say Yes (HD) Say Yes to the Dress (HD) Say Yes to the Dress (HD) Say Yes to the Dress (HD) Say Yes to the Dress (HD) Say Yes (HD) Castle: Scared to Death Killed by a Cold Justice: First Love (Cotton(:01) APB with Troy Dunn: Sister- (:01) Cold Justice: First Love (Cotton- (:02) APB with Troy Dunn: Sister- CSI: NY: Officer “haunted” DVD. (HD) wood, AZ) Pregnant girl. (N) (HD) hood Search for sisters. (N) (HD) wood, AZ) Pregnant girl. (HD) hood Search for sisters. (HD) Blue (HD) Top 20: Hotheads From Hell 3 Top 20: Hotheads From Hell 4 Top 20: Hotheads From Hell 5 Dumbest Danny Bonaduce. (:01) Dumbest Dog fights turtle. (:02) Top 20 Gilligan (HD) Gilligan (HD) Gilligan (HD) Gilligan (HD) Raymond (HD) Loves Raymond: No Fat (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Raymond (HD) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Bridesmaids (‘11, Comedy) aaa Haunted Fin gets shot. (HD) Charisma Cult leader. (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) (HD) Kristen Wiig. Maid of honor. (HD) Law & Order: Matrimony (HD) Sanya’s Glam: The Victory Lap Glam Gold: Sealed With a Kiss Sanya’s Glam: Speed Wobbles Sanya’s Glam: Glam OR Gold Glam Gold Funniest Home Videos (HD) How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met Parks (HD)

Reflections of Russia in Opening Ceremony

BY KEVIN MCDONOUGH NBC offers a delayed broadcast of the Opening Ceremony of the XXII Winter Olympics (7:30 p.m.). Some people are never truly happy unless they see all sporting events live, but the network clearly thinks it’s better that more viewers will see this in prime time.

These spectacles are always thought-provoking, if not always good television. Sometimes they are simply too grand, too weird or too long for the small screen. Many in the United Kingdom were deeply moved by the opening ceremonies of London’s 2012 summer games, a kaleidoscopic meditation on British history and identity that left me bewildered. I recall being rather staggered by the monumental spectacle of the opening to the 2008 summer games in Beijing. But I couldn’t tell you what it all “meant.” The closing ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver games struck me as whimsically Canadian — understated, slightly amusing and even a bit embarrassed to be so self-referential.

So it should be interesting, to say the very least, to see how Sochi’s Opening Ceremony reflects the spirit and identity of 21st-century Russia. It is a nation that some have come to fear and distrust for its official policy of homophobia, as well as its attempts to bully neighboring Ukraine.

And those are only the most recent misgivings.

Not all Olympics take place in happy countries with blemish-free reputations. The 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City opened just 10 days after a repressive crackdown on students and protesters left dozens dead and more than a thousand behind bars.

Did the boycotts that marred the 1980 and 1984 Olympic games prove a point, or merely destroy the opportunity for numerous athletes to compete against the world’s best?

So let’s raise a (moderate) vodka toast to the Sochi Olympics. And a second toast to the fervent hope that NBC’s decision to employ a tape delay is the most regrettable thing to come out of these games.

• “American Masters” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-PG, check local listings) presents “Alice Walker:

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AROUND TOWN The American Red Cross, Sandhills Chapter, 1155 N. Guignard Drive, Suite 2, will offer the following classes: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, Client Case Work; and 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, New Volunteer Orientation and Disaster Services Overview. Call (803)775-2363 to register.

The Shepherd’s Center, 24 Council St., will offer free public information sessions 11-11:50 a.m. each Thursday through March 13 as follows: Feb. 13, get active/be healthy; Feb. 20, investing in uncertain times; Feb. 27, emergency preparedness; March 6, spring gardening tips; and March 13, you are what you eat.

Free income tax filing services and FAFSA applications will be provided through April 15 as follows: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, 3-8 p.m. Saturdays, appointments only on Sundays, Goodwill Job-Link Center, 1028 Broad St., (803) 7745006; and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Thursdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Saturdays, Lee County Adult Education, 123 E. College St., Bishopville, (803) 484-4040. Call Ms. Samuels at (803) 240-8355.

The AARP Foundation TaxAide Program will offer free income tax assistance and electronic filing for taxpayers with low to middle incomes. Assistance will be available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through April 15 at the Shepherd’s Center, 24 Council St. Call Lynda at (803) 469-8322.

The Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association (British Wives) will meet at 11 a.m. today at Spectrum Senior Citizens Center, Pinewood Road. All British ex pats are invited. Call (803) 7758052.

An indoor yard sale, sponsored by Lincoln High School Preservation Alumni Association, will be held 7 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 8, in the LincolnTrinity gymnasium, 24 Council St. Call J.L. at (803) 968-4173 or Ronetta at (803) 983-8161.

Clarendon School District 2 will hold Saturday with the Superintendent Saturday, Feb. 8. Superintendent John Tindal will be available 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the district office, 15 Major Drive.

Mayewood High School Class of 1976 will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at Mayewood Middle School. Call Icybell at (803) 983-4157, Josephine at (803) 229-5695, Audrey at (803) 840-6680 or Melvin at (803) 983-5559. If you cannot attend this meeting, email name, contact number and email address to icycatz50@ yahoo.com.

A St. Jude Children’s Hospital fundraiser will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at Piggly Wiggly, Pinewood Road.

High Ridge Bluegrass Gospel Band will provide music. There will be hot dogs, drinks and chips for sale. Call (803) 464-4492.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fireworks are shot over the Bolshoy Ice Dome at the conclusion of a rehearsal for the opening ceremony at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Beauty in Truth,” a profile of the author of the best-selling novel “The Color Purple” and many other books.

Walker emerges here as a living witness to centuries of American life. Growing up poor in the South, she soaked up the oral histories of her grandparents. She would then personally bear witness to the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and ‘60s and the feminist movement of the 1970s.

Her novels, poems and essays were considered boldly original and controversial for discussing the violence visited upon black women by the black men who had been in turn brutalized by institutionalized racism. Walker’s mere suggestion that some black people might be authors of their own oppression or even cogs in a machine of destructive pathologies earned her much scorn.

Long on biography and unstinting in praise from famous voices (from the late historian Howard Zinn to “The Color Purple” director Steven Spielberg), “Truth” comes up a little short as literary analysis. Walker’s life is extraordinary and her work groundbreaking. But will her novels stand up as great literature? Friend and feminist Gloria Steinem com-

pares Walker favorably to Tolstoy. Will that argument hold?

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • A dying teacher’s “bucket list” becomes evidence on “Bones” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14).

“Bones” returns to Mondays on March 10.

• London residents rally against an alien invasion in the 2011 comedy “Attack the Block” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14).

• A goat-grazing lawn care enterprise on “Shark Tank” (9 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG).

• A rough game of pickup basketball provokes a lawsuit on “Blue Bloods” (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

• Decoding the virus may be within reach on “Helix” (10 p.m., Syfy, TV-PG).

CULT CHOICE A soldier (Montgomery Clift) befriends a homeless child in the 1948 drama “The Search” (2 p.m., TCM), shot on location by director Fred Zinnemann in the rubble of several German cities, including Ingolstadt, Nuremberg and Wurzburg.

SERIES NOTES Passing the buck on “Under-

cover Boss” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) * On two episodes of “Last Man Standing” (ABC, r, TV-PG): Vanessa regrets manipulating Mandy (8 p.m.); Eve’s snow-shoveling startup (8:30 p.m.) * Hit men target the headquarters on “Hawaii Five-0” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14) * Pete takes things too far on “Enlisted” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) * A silver anniversary on “Raising Hope” (9:30 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

LATE NIGHT Vanessa Hudgens, John Caparulo, Fortune Feimster and Julian McCullough appear on “Chelsea Lately” (11 p.m., E!, r) * Drew Carey, Charlamagne Tha God and Don Felder are booked on “The Arsenio Hall Show” (syndicated, check local listings) * Amy Adams appears on “Late Show With David Letterman” (11:35 p.m., CBS) * Morgan Freeman, Anna Faris and Motley Crue appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (11:35 p.m., ABC, r) * Andy Samberg and the Muppets visit “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (12:35 a.m., NBC) * Craig Ferguson hosts Tom Lennon and Imogen Poots on “The Late Late Show” (12:35 a.m., CBS).

Copyright 2014, United Feature Syndicate

Hillcrest High School Class of 1974 will hold a reunion meeting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at American Legion Post 202, 310 Palmetto St. Call E.B. at (803) 481-5148 or (803) 316-7652 or Kevin at (803) 968-3238.

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COMICS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014

BIZARRO

SOUP TO NUTZ

ANDY CAPP

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

BORN LOSER

BLONDIE

ZITS

MOTHER GOOSE

DOG EAT DOUG

DILBERT

JEFF MACNELLY’S SHOE

Whirlwind romance deflates over race DEAR ABBY —I have been dating someone for about six months. We fell in love very quickly and spend almost every Dear Abby second toABIGAIL gether.

VAN BUREN Our relationship has hit a rough patch ever since he found out that I have dated African-American men. He can’t seem to get over it, but he keeps saying he wants to try to make it work. He says cruel things sometimes when he gets mad, and it seems to be on his mind constantly. I don’t

THE SUMTER ITEM

know what to do or how to make this better. We fell in love, but it seems to be spoiled because of my past.

This isn’t a big deal to me.

I have always dated people I thought were good people.

He seems to view it as disgusting. I thought he was my soul mate because we connected so well on everything else, but I’m afraid he will never get past this issue and I may be wasting my time.

What should I do?

Rocky Road in The South DEAR ROCKY ROAD —Give him a hug and let him go. You are the sum total of your experiences and your upbringing, and the same is true of your boyfriend. He comes from a background of racial

THE DAILY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

prejudice. When a person is raised that way, the mindset can be very difficult to change.

As much as you might want to, you can’t fix this man; only he can do that.

And from your description of him, I don’t think he’s capable of that kind of growth.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.

DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

JUMBLE

SUDOKU

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.

ACROSS 1 __-de-sac 4 Consumes 11 Privately keep in the email loop, briefly 14 New START signatory 15 Unexpected result 16 Bit of cybermirth 17 Upper-bod muscle 18 With great energy, in music 19 Gp. that declared obesity a disease 20 Natives who met Lewis and Clark near modern-day Council Bluffs 22 Scent 23 Puts one’s feet up 25 Go the distance 26 Desire 27 Stopper, with “the” 28 Pretended to be 30 Bow tie preference 31 Likely to tax one’s budget 32 Corrida cry 33 Greenskeeper’s supply 34 Topographic feature represented in this puzzle’s circles 39 Inflate

42 Hyde’s birthplace?

43 Less furnished 47 Not good for a pro, usually 50 Traditional process for hammock making 52 “The Canterbury Tales” inn 53 Geometric fig.

54 Moderate pace 55 Dimwit 56 Small opening 57 Exobiologist’s org.

58 Voice actor Castellaneta of “The Simpsons” 59 Foolishness 62 Cotton __ 63 Storied vessel 64 Cheyenne allies 65 “Middle of Nowhere” director DuVernay 66 Ed.’s pile 67 First, second or third person?

68 Pinch for PŽpin DOWN 1 Domelike structures 2 Be diplomatic 3 1920s tennis great RenŽ 4 “__ tree falls ...”

5 Noritake headquarters city 6 Moves smoothly 7 John of pop 8 Hang-glide, say 9 Word of disdain 10 Impassive 11 Displays publicly 12 Opens one’s eyes 13 Butted heads 21 Direct 24 First Japanese prime minister born after WWII 27 “The Goldfish” painter 29 Print resolution letters 30 Clerical wear 32 Moon, e.g.

35 “The Impaler” who inspired Dracula 36 “Who hath a

story ready for your __”: Shak.

37 2014 Olympics airer 38 Moves quickly 39 1945 Big Three city 40 Online game icons 41 Proves fallacious 44 Xenon, for one 45 Soul-stirring 46 __ scan: ID method 48 Knock 49 Assemblyready 50 Sister of Moses and Aaron 51 Big name in soul 53 Two-door vehicle 56 School gps.

60 __ Pacis: altar of Peace 61 Thither

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THE SUMTER ITEM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2014

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803-774-1234 OR TO PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE GO TO WWW.THE ITEM.COM/PLACEMYAD

CLASSIFIEDS Summons & Notice

LEGAL NOTICES Beer & Wine License Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Busy Bee LLC of Sumter, The intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license permit that will allow the sale OFF premises consumption of Beer & Wine at 493 East Liberty Street, Sumter, SC 29150. To object to the issuance of this permit / license, written protest must be postmarked no later than February 16, 2014. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110.

Notice Of Application Notice is hereby given that Melted Whiskey Social Club intends to apply to the South Carolina Department of Revenue for a license/permit that will allow the sale and ON premises consumption of Beer, Wine and Liquor at 1311 Peach Orchard Rd., Sumter, SC 29154. To object to the issuance of this permit/ license, written protest must be postmarked no later than February 16, 2014. For a protest to be valid, it must be in writing, and should include the following information: (1) the name, address and telephone number of the person filing the protest; (2) the specific reasons why the application should be denied; (3) that the person protesting is willing to attend a hearing (if one is requested by the applicant); (4) that the person protesting resides in the same county where the proposed place of business is located or within five miles of the business; and (5) the name of the applicant and the address of the premises to be licensed. Protests must be mailed to: S.C. Department of Revenue, ATTN: ABL, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, South Carolina 29214; or Faxed to: (803) 896-0110

Bid Notices BID SOLICITATION A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held at Sumter School District in the Maintenance Department at 1345 Wilson Hall Road, Sumter on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. for Alice Drive Middle School Lighting Project. You will receive bid packets at the Pre-Bid Conference. Sealed bids will be opened on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.

Summons & Notice SUMMONS, NOTICE OF FILING, PENDENCY OF ACTION AND HEARING, NOTICE OF HEARING. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER

IN THE FAMILY COURT Case Number: 2013-DR-43-1155 CHARLES R. BOVEE PLAINTIFF, -VSKAREN A. BOVEE,

DEFENDANT, TO THE DEFENDANT ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to the said Complaint on the Plaintiff's Attorney, Timothy L. Griffith, at his place of business, W. Wesmark Blvd, 2nd Floor, Sumter, SC 29150, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

COMPLAINT for Divorce on the grounds of one year continuous separation without cohabitation.

The original Complaint was filed in Sumter County Family Court, Sumter, SC and is pending in the Family Court.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE a hearing on the above action will be held within 10 days of this notice or at the Courts earliest convenience before the presiding Judge of the Sumter County Family Court, Sumter, South Carolina.

Timothy L. Griffith Attorney at Law, 360 W. Wesmark Blvd, 2nd Floor Sumter, SC 29150 803-607-9386

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS DOCKET NO. 13-CP-43-1856 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER EverBank, Plaintiff, v.

Von'Shay S. Robinson a/k/a VonShay S. Robinson; Defendant(s) (006735-01475) Deficiency Judgment Waived TO THE DEFENDANT(S), Vonshay S. Robinson a/k/a Von'Shay S. Robinson: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this foreclosure action on property located at 29 Cheyne Street, Sumter, South Carolina 29153, being designated in the County tax records as TMS# 250-06-07-003, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 220 Executive Center Drive, Suite 109, Post Office Box 100200, Columbia, South Carolina, 29202-3200, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND/OR MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem to represent said minor(s) within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff(s) herein. Columbia, South Carolina November 26, 2013 NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANTS ABOVE NAMED: YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons and Complaint, of which the foregoing is a copy of the Summons, were filed with the Clerk

I’ve never seen so many cars and people!

What do you think is going on over there?

Well, I was told she’s having one of those ‘Garage Sales.’

Can you imagine?!

Minnie told me she made over $100 last time she had one... Just by placing a Classiied Ad in

Do you think we should have one and place an ad?

It sure would help with Spring Cleaning!

20 N. Magnolia St. Sumter, SC 803.774.1234 www.theitem.com

CLASSIFIED DEADLINES 11:30 a.m. the day before for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday edition.

9:30 a.m. Friday for Saturday’s edition 11:30 a.m. Friday for Sunday’s edition.

We will be happy to change your ad if an error is made; however we are not responsible for errors after the irst run day. We shall not be liable for any loss or expense that results from the printing or omission of an advertisement. We reserve the right to edit, refuse or cancel any ad at any time.

Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina on October 16, 2013.

Columbia, South Carolina November 26, 2013

INTERVENTION

be considered for any available Foreclosure Intervention, you may communicate with and otherwise deal with the Plaintiff through its law firm, Rogers Townsend and Thomas, PC. Rogers Townsend and Thomas, PC represents the Plaintiff

in this action. Our law firm does not represent you. Under our ethical rules, we are prohibited from giving you any legal advice. You must submit any requests for Foreclosure Intervention consideration within 30 days from the date you are served

FN NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to the South Carolina Supreme Court Administrative Order 2011-05-02-01, you may have a right to Foreclosure Intervention. To

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CLASSIFIEDS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2014

COMPLETE BED SETS 29 Progress St. - Sumter TWIN ............

FULL.............

775-8366 Ext. 37 QUEEN...........

Store Hours 0RQ 6DW 9:30 - 5:00 KING.............

Closed Sunday Summons & Notice

with this Notice.

IF YOU FAIL, REFUSE, OR VOLUNTARILY ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION, THE FORECLOSURE ACTION MAY PROCEED. Rogers Townsend and Thomas, PC ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF Samuel C. Waters (SC Bar #5958) Cheryl H. Fisher (SC Bar #15213) Reginald P. Corley (SC Bar #69453) Jennifer W. Rubin (SC Bar #16727) Ellie C. Floyd (SC Bar #68635) Michael P. Morris (SC Bar #73560) Robert P. Davis (SC Bar #74030) William S. Koehler (SC Bar#74935) Vance L. Brabham, III (SC Bar #71250) Andrew W. Montgomery (SC Bar #79893) Andrew A. Powell (SC Bar #100210) J. Pamela Price (SC Bar # 014336) Laura R. Baer (SC Bar # 101076) Mary R. Powers (SC Bar # 16534) 220 Executive Center Drive Post Office Box 100200 (29202) Columbia, SC 29210

accordance with the provisions of §30-5-250 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended.

TMS No. 1590501015 Property Address: 4 Driftwood Court, Sumter, SC 29154 RILEY POPE & LANEY, LLC, Post Office Box 11412, Columbia, South Carolina 29211 (803) 799-9993 Attorneys for Plaintiff, 1080088

and required to appear and defend by answering the Complaint in this foreclosure action on property located at 420 Robbins Avenue, Sumter, South Carolina 29150, being designated in the County tax records as TMS# 205-04-04-008, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 220 Executive Center Drive, Suite 109, Post Office Box 100200, Columbia, South Carolina, 29202-3200, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to do so, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. Plaintiff, -vsLouvinia Annetta Louvinia A. Cole,

Cole

a/k/a

Defendant(s) TO THE DEFENDANT(S), Louvinia Anetta Cole a/k/a Louvinia A. Cole

SUMMONS AND NOTICE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A NO: 2012-CP-43-2392 Bank of America, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. David Norris aka David R. Norris, individually, and as heir to the Estate of Mary J. Norris aka Mary Jane Norris, Deceased; the Personal Representative, if any, whose name is unknown, of the Estate of Mary J. Norris aka Mary Jane Norris; Sandy Wright, Edward Norris, William Norris, Johnny Norris, Carolyn Dicks, Wanda Moses, Michael Norris, and any other Heirs-at-Law or Devisees of Mary J. Norris aka Mary Jane Norris, Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe, and the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Defendants.

TO THE DEFENDANT(S) Sandy Wright: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in the above action, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer upon the undersigned at their offices, 2838 Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29205, within thirty (30) days after service upon you, exclusive of the day of such service, and, if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the original Complaint in this action was filed in the office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County on December 17, 2012. NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF ACTION: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an action has been commenced and is now pending or is about to be commenced in the Circuit Court upon the complaint of the above named Plaintiff against the above named Defendant for the purpose of foreclosing a certain mortgage of real estate heretofore given by Mary Jane Norris to Bank of America, N.A. bearing date of June 8, 2004, and recorded June 10, 2004 in Mortgage Book 941 at Page 757 in the R e g i s t e r o f M e s n e Conveyances/Register of Deeds/Clerk of Court for Sumter County, in the original principal sum of Forty Five Thousand Three Hundred Nineteen and 00/100 Dollars ($45,319.00). Thereafter, by assignment was recorded in Book 1127 on Page 3212 on August 12, 2009, in the said ROD Office, the said Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) as nominee for Landmark Mortgage Corporation assigned said mortgage to Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp.; thereafter, by assignment recorded July 15, 2011 in Book 1157 at Page 912, said mortgage was assigned to BAC Home Loan Servicing, L.P. Thereafter, on July 1, 2011, BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP merged into Bank of America, N.A., and that the premises effected by said mortgage and by the foreclosure thereof are situated in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, and is described as follows: All that certain piece, parcel or lot of land, situate, lying and being in the Township and County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, designated as Lot 35 of Ravenwood Subdivision, and shown on a plat by Michael T. Arant, Sr., R.L.S., dated September 13, 1978 and recorded in Plat Book Z-45 at Page 301 in the RMC Office for Sumter County. Said Lot 35 has such metes, boundaries, course and distances as are shown on said plat which are incorporated herein in

$25 EACH $35 EACH $40 EACH $45 EACH

Summons & Notice

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CASE NO. 2013-CP-43-2234

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer on the subscribers at their offices, 1640 St. Julian Place, Columbia, South Carolina 29202, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; except that the United States of America, if named, shall have sixty (60) days to answer after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, the Plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for a judgment by default granting the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, AND/OR TO MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDE(S), AND/OR TO PERSON UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY, INCOMPETENTS AND PERSONS CONFINED: YOUR ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem within thirty (30) days after service of this Summons and Notice upon you. If you fail to do so, application for such appointment will be made by the Plaintiff.

NOTICE OF FILING COMPLAINT YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons and Complaint in the above-captioned action were filed on February 26, 2013, in the Office of the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina.

Crawford & von Keller, LLC. PO Box 4216 1640 St. Julian Place (29204) Columbia, SC 29204 Phone: 803-790-2626 Attorneys for Plaintiff

SUMMONS IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS DOCKET NO. 13-CP-43-1505 STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF SUMTER PHH Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff, v.

James E. Childre, Sr.; Alana Timms; Any Heirs-At-Law or Devisees of James E. Childre, Jr., Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe; Kim Childre Tuck, as Personal Representative of the Estate of James E. Childre, Jr.; Kim Childre Tuck, Individually; USAA Federal Savings Bank; Defendant(s). (011227-01225)

Deficiency Judgment Waived TO THE DEFENDANT(S): James E. Childre, Sr. and any unknown Heirs-At-Law or Devisees of James E. Childre, Jr., Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED

200 THREAD CT. SHEET SETS

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Summons & Notice

SUMMONS (Deficiency Judgment Waived) (Mortgage Foreclosure) Non-Jury

THE SUMTER ITEM

TO MINOR(S) OVER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND/OR MINOR(S) UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND THE PERSON WITH WHOM THE MINOR(S) RESIDES AND/OR TO PERSONS UNDER SOME LEGAL DISABILITY: YOU ARE FURTHER SUMMONED AND NOTIFIED to apply for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem within thirty (30) days after the service of this Summons upon you. If you fail to do so, Plaintiff will apply to have the appointment of the Guardian ad Litem Nisi, Anne Bell Fant, made absolute. Columbia, South Carolina October 17, 2013 FN STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS COUNTY OF SUMTER DOCKET NO. PHH Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff, v. James E. Childre, Sr.; Alana Timms; Any Heirs-At-Law or Devisees of James E. Childre, Jr., Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe; Kim Childre Tuck, as Personal Representative of the Estate of James E. Childre, Jr.; Kim Childre Tuck, Individually; USAA Federal Savings Bank; Defendant(s).

(011227-01225) LIS PENDENS Deficiency Judgment Waived NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT an action has been or will be commenced in this Court upon complaint of the above-named Plaintiff against the above-named Defendant(s) for the foreclosure of a certain mortgage of real estate given

by James E. Childre aka James E. Childre Jr. to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for USAA Federal Savings Bank, its successors and assigns (MIN 100105600029989174) dated August 25, 2010, and recorded in the Office of the RMC/ROD for Sumter County on September 9, 2010, in Mortgage Book 1144 at Page 1052.

This Mortgage was assigned to the Plaintiff herein by assignment dated July 2, 2013 and recorded July 29, 2013 in Book 1191 at Page 1313. The premises covered and affected by the said mortgage and by the foreclosure thereof were, at the time of the making thereof and at the time of the filing of this notice, described as follows: All that parcel of land in City of Sumter, Sumter County, State of South Carolina, as more fully described in Deed Book 1091, Page 3314, ID# 205-04-04-008, being known and designated as Lot 33, Palmetto Park, filed in Plat Book Z15, Page 22, recorded September 5, 1957. This being the same property conveyed to James E. Childre, Jr. by deed of James E. Field and Shirley J. Field, dated September 5, 2007 and recorded September 12, 2007 in Book 1091 at Page 3314. Subsequently, James E. Childre, Jr. died intestate on June 16, 2011, leaving the subject property to his heirs, namely, Kim Childre Tuck, James E. Childre, Sr. and Alana Timms as is more fully preserved in Probate Case 2012-ES-43-73. Property Address: 420 Robbins Ave Sumter, SC 29150 TMS# 205-04-04-008 Columbia, South Carolina August 20, 2013 NOTICE TO THE DEFENDANTS: James E. Childre, Sr. and any unknown Heirs-At-Law or Devisees of James E. Childre, Jr., Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe

SAVE SAVE SAVE! Summons & Notice

Summons & Notice

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to the South Carolina Supreme Court Administrative Order 2011-05-02-01, you may have a right to Foreclosure Intervention. To be considered for any available Foreclosure Intervention, you may communicate with and otherwise deal with the Plaintiff through its law firm, Rogers Townsend and Thomas, PC. Rogers Townsend and Thomas, PC represents the Plaintiff in this action. Our law firm does not represent you. Under our ethical rules, we are prohibited from giving you any legal advice. You must submit any requests for Foreclosure Intervention consideration within 30 days from the date you are served with this Notice.

IF YOU FAIL, REFUSE, OR VOLUNTARILY ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN FORECLOSURE INTERVENTION, THE FORECLOSURE ACTION MAY PROCEED. Columbia, South Carolina October 17, 2013 ATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS COUNTY OF SUMTER DOCKET NO. 13-CP-43-1505 PHH Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff, v. James E. Childre, Sr.; Alana Timms; Any Heirs-At-Law or Devisees of James E. Childre, Jr., Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe; Kim Childre Tuck, as Personal Representative of the Estate of James E. Childre, Jr.; Kim Childre Tuck, Individually; USAA Federal Savings Bank; Defendant(s).

(011227-01225) ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM NISI Deficiency Judgment Waived It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, upon reading the Motion for the appointment of Anne Bell Fant as Guardian Ad Litem Nisi for any unknown minors and persons who may be under a disability, it is ORDERED that, pursuant to Rule 17, SCRCP, Anne Bell Fant, be and hereby is appointed Guardian Ad Litem Nisi on behalf of all unknown minors and all unknown persons under a disability, all of whom may have or may claim to have some interest in or claim to the real property commonly known as 420 Robbins Avenue, Sumter, South Carolina 29150; that Anne Bell Fant is empowered and directed to appear on behalf of and represent said Defendant(s), unless the said Defendant(s), or someone on their behalf, shall within thirty (30) days after service of a copy hereof as directed, procure the appointment of a Guardian or Guardians Ad Litem for the said Defendant(s), and it is FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order shall forthwith be served upon the said Defendant(s) James E. Childre, Sr. and any unknown Heirs-At-Law or Devisees of James E. Childre, Jr., Deceased, their heirs, Personal Representatives, Administrators, Successors and Assigns, and all other persons entitled to claim through them; all unknown persons with any right, title or interest in the real estate described herein; also any persons who may be in the military service of the United States of America, being a class designated as John Doe; and any unknown minors or persons under a disability being a class designated as Richard Roe by publication thereof in the The Item, a newspaper of general circulation in the County of Sumter, State of South Carolina, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, together with the Summons in the above entitled action. James C. Campbell Clerk of Court for Sumter County Rogers Townsend and Thomas, PC ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF Samuel C. Waters (SC Bar #5958) Cheryl H. Fisher (SC Bar #15213) Reginald P. Corley

TWIN ............. $8 EACH FULL............. $10 EACH QUEEN........... $11 EACH KING............. $12 EACH ASST. SHOWER CURTAINS $10 EACH In Memory

(SC Bar #69453) Jennifer W. Rubin (SC Bar #16727) Ellie C. Floyd (SC Bar #68635) Michael P. Morris (SC Bar #73560) Eve Moredock Stacey (SC Bar #5300) Robert P. Davis (SC Bar #74030) William S. Koehler (SC Bar#74935) Vance L. Brabham, III (SC Bar #71250) Andrew W. Montgomery (SC Bar #79893) Andrew A. Powell (SC Bar #100210) J. Pamela Price (SC Bar # 014336) 220 Executive Center Drive Post Office Box 100200 (29202) Columbia, SC 29210 (803) 744-4444

Public Hearing NOTICE OF BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING The City of Manning Board of Appeals will meet on Monday, February 24, 2014, at 6:00 p.m., City Hall, 29 W. Boyce Street, to hear the following appeals:

Alonzo Thompson Gone but Never Forgotten 05/07/91 - 02/07/13 Today marks a year God called you home. Not a day goes by that we don't miss you. We love you but God loves you best. Love always, Florence, Marilyn & Willie

Request No. V-2014-01 by Ervin L. Davis to be allowed a variance of 10 ft. to the front setback requirement of 35 ft. located at 102 N. Brooks Street, Tax Map# 187-01-02-007-00, zoned General Commercial (GC).

Request No. V-2014-02 by Gregory D. Wilson to be allowed a variance to increase the maximum number of vehicles on property located at 42 Ross St., Tax Map# 169-15-08-008-00, zoned General Commercial (GC).

Documents related to these appeals are available for public inspection during regular business hours at City Hall, 29 W. Boyce Street, Manning, SC 29102.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Lost & Found Found male terrier mix near Apex on Hwy 15 S & Clipper Rd. Owner call 317-697-5108 to identify.

Lost: female Siberian husky in Dalzell. Blk/white with blue eyes.

Answers to Dakota. If found call 499-6612 or 803-760-0208.

Found in front of Alice Dr. fire station a crate of ropes & other objects. Owner call 316-3825 to identify.

Found: small dog on Pike Rd. near Farmer's Telephone. Owner call 499-4978/236-9007 to identify

Annette S. Williams 10//02//44 - 02//07//09 What would we give her hand to clasp, her patient face to see, To hear her voice, to see her smile as in the days that used to be. But some sweet day we'll meet again, Beyond the toil and strife. And clasp each other's hand once more in Heaven, that Happy life.

From your loving husband, Thomas, your three children, your grand children and son-in-laws.

BUSINESS SERVICES Exterminators FIRE ANT CONTROL GODBOLD ENTERPRISES Residential, Sporting Complexes, Cemeteries, Horse Pastures, Schools $85 For 1 Acre or less O: 843-407-7608 C: 843-687-4401

Home Improvements H.L. Boone, Contractor additions, painting, roofing, gutters, sheetrock, blown ceilings, decks. 773-9904

Tree Service STATE TREE SERVICE Worker's Comp & General liability insurance. Top quality service, lowest prices. 803-494-5175 or 803-491-5154 www.statetree.net A Notch Above Tree Care Full quality service low rates, lic./ins., free est BBB accredited 983-9721

YOU WILL PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Summons and Complaint, of which the foregoing is a copy of the Summons, were filed with the Clerk of Court for Sumter County, South Carolina on August 21, 2013.

Columbia, South Carolina October 17, 2013

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PETS & ANIMALS Pets AKC German Shorthair Pointers, 2 M, 1 yr old. 2 F 6 mo old. $250 ea 803-478-8348

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Brand new Frigidaire Affinity Gas Dryer (Black) $425 Call 803-294-0925

Experienced nail tech. & Hairdresser needed at Spa Serenity in Manning, SC. Call 803-433-spas (7727) to schedule an interview.

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Affordable, reliable 15 yrs exp ref's. Melissa 803-938-5204

3BR 1BA newly renovated, C/H/A, stove & refrig. Near Lakewood High School $595 Mo+Dep 469-8328 / 983-9711

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EXP CONCRETE FINSHER/ Working Foreman, valid Driver license, background/drug test, leadership skills. Submit resumes to Box 349 c//o The Item, PO Box 1677 Sumter SC 29151

I'm available to clean your home.

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Ethel 803-469-9347.

Premium Firewood (Oak/Hickory) $70/del. Tree Serv. & Lawn Care avail. Chris 803-464-8743 Split Oak Firewood, $65/dump, $70/stacked. Darrell Newman 803-316-0128. Tree Service also avail.

Massey Ferguson 35 Tractor Runs good, no smoke, no leaks, gas. Strong tractor $3,100 OBO Call 803 972-0900 Martin's Used Appliance Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Stoves.

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B-N-T is looking for EMT's. Competiti ve wages. Fax in resume to: 803-774-4452 or call 803-774-4450.

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Farm Products Lakeside Market 2100 Wedgefield Rd Fri & Sat 5 LB Sweet Potatoes $1.98

Garage, Yard & Estate Sales 922 Trailmore Cir. Sat. 8-11 Furn., tools, work benches, hshld , chest freezer & more Lincoln-Trinity Gymnasium Indoor Yard Sale 24 Council St Sat Feb.8 7AM-12PM Contact: J.L Green 803- 968-4173 or Ronetta Moses 803-983-8161 Sumter County Flea Mkt Hwy 378 E. 803-495-2281 500 tables. Sat. $8 free return Sun.

Jewelry Ladies Diamond Eng ring in 14k Wht Gold, Top is Platinum, 1.50 ct t.w. center dia is 1.00 ct sol.

Written appraisal $6,000, asking $2,800. Call 803-464-8897

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Parts Puller needed. Must have own tools. Apply in person at Tim's Auto Parts, 1310 Hubcap Lane, Sumter. No phone calls, please.

Dental Front Office NeededPart time leading to possible full time. Dental Experience a must.

Fax resume to 803 905-5283 Attn: Office Manager

Property Management company looking for experienced managers to oversee mobile home community. Must be WILLING TO RELOCATE within SOUTH CAROLINA and LIVE ON SITE in company provided home. Must be able to handle multiple projects and tasks with minimal supervision, enjoy working with the public and have excellent communication skills.

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GOODWIN EXCLUSIVE 2006 Mercury Montego

For Sale or Trade Antique Oak Kit Cabinet $450 Old Pine Pie Safe $200 Call 494-9305 or 491-8187

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Senior Living Apartments for those 62+ (Rent based on income) Shiloh-Randolph Manor 125 W. Bartlette.

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$4 995

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I will sit with elderly or sick. Will provide ref/exp. Call 803-236-3603 for more info.

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GOODWIN EXCLUSIVE 2003 Buick Park Ave

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2BR Home on Patricia Dr. Completely remodeled. Like new!

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2 & 3BR Apt & houses available in Sumter. No Sec. Dep. required.

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Auctions NOT an Absolute AUCTION Sat, Feb 8th., 9AM, 451 E. Liberty St. Bid & Pay. Lots furniture & lots of misc items. All sales AS IS. No Refunds or Exchange, Cash only!

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RV parking avail. Call 494-8350

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Homes for Sale Use your Tax Money for a Down Payment Recently Foreclosed, Special Financing Available, Any Credit, Any Income. 3BR/1BA, 1290 Sq ft, located at, 3133 Pleasant Grove Rd, Lynchburg, $11,900.

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2007 Singlewide. Owner financing with $5,000 down. Call 803-236-5953

S.C. Construction Serv., We specialize in Energy Systems, also offer Painting, Dry Wall, Floor Encapsulations, and mobile home repairs.

Call 803-847-7824 for more details.

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Tax Time is Here... Low Credit Score? Been turned down for bad credit? Come try us, we do our own financing. We have 3-4-5 bedroom homes. Layaway program available. For more information, call 843-389-4215.

Hair's Auto Sales 4835 Pinewood Rd. 803-452-6020 On The Lot Financing No Credit Check, Free Warranty.

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1983 Pontiac Bonneville, 78,000 original miles. Excellent condition.

Asking 3,900 OBO. 803-968-1004 or 803-983-9599 R & R Motors 803-494-2886 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV. 2005 Chevy Equinox LT. 2008 Ford Explorer, 2001 Chevy Blazer

0.64 ac lot in Twin Lakes. 1355 Kentwood Dr. $10,000 or BO. Call 803-473-4639.

A Guaranteed Credit Approval AUTO LOANS

Commercial Industrial

We will arrange financing even if you have been turned down before.

Loans available for no credit, bad credit, 1st Time Buyers & Bankruptcy buyers. No co-signers needed. Call Mr. Ashley Brown at 803-926-3235

Church Facility located at 16 Kendrick Street. Move in Ready.

10,195 sq ft on 2.35 acres with 1,040 sq ft picnic shelter. Chapel, Fellowship Hall, Sunday School Rooms, Office Complex and Full Working Kitchen. Contact Talmadge Tobias at Re/Max Summit 803-491-4573.

96 Blazer 4DR, A/C, new CD player, Great cond., 218k miles. . $1950 Neg. 803-847-7273

Here's My Card PLEASE CALL 803-774-1234 FOR MORE INFORMATION â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saving time & money with no worriesâ&#x20AC;?

Over 20 years of experience

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TRANSPORTATION

J&Tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Local Moving and More

ACE PARKER TIRE INC. )PVS &NFSHFODZ 4FSWJDF

Manufactured Housing

THE SUMTER ITEM

Jamie Singleton Owner

64 Wilder Street Sumter, SC 29150 803-236-4008 or 803-773-3934 r 'SFF &TUJNBUFT r .PWJOH )PNF 0GĂ DF

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Timothy L. Grifith Attorney at Law

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H.L. Boone

Owner / Notary Public

H.L. Boone, Contractor

Shop and Save!

What do you have to lose-FREE Quote!

Ernie Baker Ernest Baker, Jr. 803.491.4417 803.491.6905 #VMUNBO %SJWF t 4VNUFS 4$ t

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All Types of Improvements 1 Monte Carlo Court Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 773-9904

Remodeling, Painting, Carports, Decks, Blow Ceilings, Ect.

NUNNERY ROOFING & REMODELING All Types of Rooing & Remodeling Flat Roof Specialist

DISTRIBUTORS Goodman HVAC is back in Sumter For a local Goodman Dealer call Butch Davis 803-905-1155

Free Estimates Licensed & Insured Int/Ext. Water Damage Int/Ext. Painting (803) 968-2459 Fax (803) 481-0603

Shingle Roofs Tile & Slate Roofs Metal Roofs Warranted Leak Repairs

KEVIN NUNNERY

XDOS, Inc.

@MZW` ,QOQ\IT 7NĂ&#x2026;KM ;a[\MU[ AW]Z 4WKIT )]\PWZQbML @MZW` ;ITM[ )OMVKa 18 E. Liberty St. Sumter, SC 29150 (803) 778-2330

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If you want the Bestâ&#x20AC;Ścall the Best one Right!

Cleaning D

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning 8BUFS 'JSF %BNBHF t 4NPLF 0EPS 3FNPWBM .PME 4BNQMJOH BOE 3FNJUJBUJPO 24/7 Emergency Service )JSBN 4QJUUMF "JSQPSU 3PBE 803-938-5441 4VNUFS 4$ www.spittlescleaning.com

Mike Stone 2160 Thomas Sumter Hwy. Sumter, SC 29153 1IPOF t 'BY License #M97151 www.hat-fieldexpressac.com

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Senior Citizens 15% Discount

WALKER PIANO

$JODJOOBUJ $POTFSWBUPSZ $FSUJĂĽFE 4JODF

Ă&#x2039; Free Estimates Ă&#x2039; Free Installation Ă&#x2039; Ă&#x2039; REPAIRS AND REFINISHING Ă&#x2039; Senior Discount

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803-485-8705 4 $BOUFZ 4USFFU

DADâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SMALL ENGINES

Jimmyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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Heating and Air LLC

We have always been just around the corner.

As lifelong residents of Clarendon County, you know who we are and that we are committed to provide you with all the comforts of home.

Don & Faye 1000 Myrtle Beach Highway Sumter, SC 29153

(803) 495-4411

OVER 32 YEARS EXPERIENCE

LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED 803-460-5420 OR 803-478-5957 SALES & SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS Chris Mathis

803-478-8564 803-478-2928

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Jimmy Mathis

Pence the Painter Since 1980 Interior and Exterior Painting 803-469-4001 Cell: 803-795-3198

DIXIE CHOPPER

10% Senior Citizen & Military Discount

HUSQVARNA

THE GAMECOCK SHRINE CLUB

is Available for Rent!

CALL NOW FOR DATE AVAILABILITY!

Rent for your â&#x20AC;&#x153;Special Occasionsâ&#x20AC;? $SBGU 4IPXT t 8FEEJOHT t #BORVFUT t 3FUJSFNFOU 1BSUJFTt 'BNJMZ 3FVOJPOT Call 983-1376

2535 Tahoe Dr. (Across from Hardee Cove)

905-3473

Ofice: (803) 775-1269 Fax: (803) 775-2154

Mills Electric Co., Inc. $0/53"$5*/( t 4&37*$&

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